Phosphinic alkanoic acid derivatives

ABSTRACT

The present invention relate to phosphinic alkanoic acid derivatives that inhibit N-Acetylated α-Linked Acidic Dipeptidase (NAALADase) enzyme activity, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of using the same to inhibit NAALADase activity and to treat glutamate abnormalities and prostate diseases.

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of: (A) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/665,775, filed Jun. 17, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,602; (B) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/864,545, filed May 28, 1997, which in turn is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/665,775, filed Jun. 17, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,602; (C) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/718,703, filed Sep. 27, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,662; (D) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/884,479, filed Jun. 27, 1997, which in turn is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/718,703, filed Sep. 27, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,662; U.S. patent application Ser No. 08/842,360, filed Apr. 24, 1997; U.S. patent application Ser No. 08/863,624, filed May 27, 1997; and U.S. patent application Ser No. 08/858,985, filed May 27, 1997; (E) U.S. patent application Ser No. 08/899,319, filed Jul. 23, 1997, which in turn is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/718,703, filed Sep. 27, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,662; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/775,586, filed Dec. 31, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,877; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/778,733, filed Dec. 31, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,536; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/825,997, filed Apr. 4, 1997; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/835,572, filed Apr. 9, 1997; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/842,360, filed Apr. 24, 1997; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/863,624, filed May 27, 1997; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/858,985, filed May 27, 1997; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/884,479, filed Jun. 27, 1997, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/718,703, filed Sep. 27, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,662; and (F) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/900,194, filed Jul. 29, 1997, which in turn is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/864,545, filed May 28, 1997, which in turn is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/665,775, filed Jun. 17, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,602; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/858,985, filed May 27, 1997, which is in turn is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/665,776, filed Jun. 17, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,592; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/863,624, filed May 27, 1997, which in turn is a CIP of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/665,776, filed Jun. 17, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,672,592.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relate to phosphinic alkanoic acid derivatives that inhibit N-Acetylated α-Linked Acidic Dipeptidase (NAALADase) enzyme activity, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of using the same to inhibit NAALADase activity and to treat glutamate abnormalities and prostate diseases.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Glutamate Abnormalities

Glutamate serves as the predominant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). Neurons release glutamate in great quantities when they are deprived of oxygen, as may occur during an ischemic brain insult such as a stroke or a heart attack. This excess release of glutamate in turn causes over-stimulation (excitotoxicity) of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), AMPA, Kainate and MGR receptors. When glutamate binds to these receptors, ion channels in the receptors open, permitting flows of ions across their cell membranes, e.g., Ca²⁺ and Na⁺ into the cells and K⁺ out of the cells. These flows of ions, especially the influx of Ca²⁺, cause over-stimulation of the neurons. The over-stimulated neurons secrete more glutamate, creating a domino-effect which ultimately results in cell death via the production of proteases, lipases and free radicals.

Excessive activation of glutamate receptors has been implicated in various neurological diseases and conditions, including epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's Disease, schizophrenia, chronic pain, ischemia and neuronal loss following hypoxia, hypoglycemia, ischemia, trauma, and nervous insult. Recent studies have also advanced a glutamatergic basis for compulsive disorders, particularly drug dependence.

As an example, neurophysiological and pathological effects of ethanol have been found to be mediated through the glutamatergic system. Specifically, acute exposure to ethanol disrupts glutamatergic neurotransmission by inhibiting ion flow through channels in glutamate receptors, whereas chronic exposure up-regulates the number of glutamate receptors and thereby increases ion flow. Acute withdrawal from ethanol results in hyperexcitability and seizures in the presence of up-regulated channels, thereby making postsynaptic neurons vulnerable to excitotoxic damage.

Post mortem examinations of histologically normal brains from alcoholics have shown that chronic alcoholism moderately increases the density of the NMDA subtype of glutamate receptors in the frontal cortex. This up-regulation may represent a stage of ethanol-induced chronic neurotoxicity. As such, neurobiological effects of alcoholism, including intoxication, withdrawal seizures, delirium tremens, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome, can be understood as a spectrum of the consequences of ethanol's effect on the glutamatergic system. In this regard, alcoholism may be considered another member of the expanding family of glutamate-related neurological disorders.

The glutamatergic system has also been implicated in the behavioral effects of other abused drugs. For example, studies have shown that glutamatergic antagonists block motor-stimulating activities induced by amphetamine and cocaine, and glutamatergic agonists cause the same stereotypy as that produced by amphetamine.

These results represent pharmacological evidence that the expression of the stereotypic effect of psychomotor stimulants involves the glutamatergic system.

Epidemiologic studies have revealed a strong correlation between drug dependence and other compulsive disorders. Additionally, a common genetic anomaly has been found among people with alcoholism, cocaine dependence, nicotine dependence, pathological gambling, attention deficit disorder (ADD), Tourette's syndrome, compulsive overeating and obesity. Such disorders are believed to be manifestations of the effects of excitotoxicity.

Attempts to prevent excitotoxicity by blocking NMDA, AMPA, Kainate and MGR receptors have proven difficult because each receptor has multiple sites to which glutamate may bind. Many of the compositions that are effective in blocking the receptors are also toxic to animals. As such, there is currently no known effective treatment for glutate abnormalities.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the leading form of cancer and the second leading cause of death from cancer for men in the United States. The American Cancer Society has estimated that in 1996 alone, 317,100 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed and 41,400 deaths were caused by prostate cancer. The incidence rate of prostate cancer increased 65% between 1980 and 1990, and will continue to rise with improved screening tests and longer life expectancies. While most men used to die of other illnesses before prostate cancer had a chance to develop, higher prostate cancer mortality rates are expected as men live longer and the disease has more time to progress.

In 1993, the molecular cloning of Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) was reported as a potential prostate carcinoma marker and hypothesized to serve as a target for imaging and cytotoxic treatment modalities for prostate cancer. PSMA antibodies, particularly indium-111 labelled and itrium labelled PSMA antibodies, have been described and examined clinically for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. PSMA is expressed in prostatic ductal epithelium and is present in seminal plasma, prostatic fluid and urine. In 1996, it was found that the expression of PSMA cDNA confers the activity of NAALADase.

NAALADase Inhibitors

NAAG and NAALADase have been implicated in several human and animal pathological conditions. For example, it has been demonstrated that intra-hippocampal injections of NAAG elicit prolonged seizure activity.

More recently, it was reported that rats genetically prone to epileptic seizures have a persistent increase in their basal level of NAALADase activity. These observations support the hypothesis that increased availability of synaptic glutamate elevates seizure susceptibility, and suggest that NAALADase inhibitors may provide anti-epileptic activity.

NAAG and NAALADase have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of ALS and in the pathologically similar animal disease called Hereditary Canine Spinal Muscular Atrophy (HCSMA). It has been shown that concentrations of NAAG and its metabolites--NAA, glutamate and spartate--are elevated two- to three-fold in the cerebrospinal fluid of ALS patients and HCSMA dogs. Additionally, NAALADase activity is significantly increased (two- to three-fold) in post-mortem spinal cord tissue from ALS patients and HCSMA dogs. As such, NAALADase inhibitors may be clinically useful in curbing the progression of ALS if increased metabolism of NAAG is responsible for the alterations of CSF levels of these acidic amino acids and peptides.

Abnormalities in NAAG levels and NAALADase activity have also been documented in post-mortem schizophrenic brain, specifically in the prefrontal and limbic brain regions.

The findings described above suggest that NAALADase inhibitors could be useful in treating glutamate abnormalities. In fact, the results of studies conducted by the inventors confirm that NAALADase inhibitors are effective in treating glutamate abnormalities (particularly stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), spinal cord injury, alcoholism and nicotine dependence), as well as prostate diseases (particularly prostate cancer).

While a few NAALADase inhibitors have been identified, they have only been used in non-clinical research. Examples of such inhibitors include general metallopeptidase inhibitors such as o-phenanthroline, metal chelators such as EGTA and EDTA, and peptide analogs such as quisqualic acid and β-NAAG. Accordingly, a need exists for new NAALADase inhibitors, as well as pharmaceutical compositions and methods using such new and known NAALADase inhibitors to treat glutamate abnormalities and prostate diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compound of formula I: ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof, wherein:

X is CR₆ R₇, O or NR₈ ;

R₁ is selected from the group consisting of C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₁ is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkykl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar;

R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are independently unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₇ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar; and

Ar is selected from the group consisting of 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 2-indolyl, 3-indolyl, 4-indolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, benzyl and phenyl, wherein said Ar is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent (s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, C₂ -C₆ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino.

The present invention also relates to a method of treating a glutamate abnormality in an animal, comprising administering to said animal an effective amount of a compound of formula I.

The present invention further relates to a method of effecting a neuronal activity in an animal, comprising administering to said animal an effective amount of a compound of formula I.

Additionally, the present invention relates to a method of treating a compulsive disorder, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula I.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of treating a prostate disease in an animal, comprising administering to said animal an effective amount of a compound of formula I.

Moreover, the present invention relates to a method of inhibiting NAALADase activity in an animal, comprising administering to said animal an effective amount of a compound of formula I.

Finally, the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising:

(i) an effective amount of a compound of formula I; and

(ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a bar graph plotting in vitro toxicity of ischemic insult (potassium cyanide and 2-deoxyglucose) against various doses of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid with which cortical cell cultures were treated.

FIG. 2 is a bar graph plotting in vitro toxicity against various doses of NAAG to which cortical cell cultures were exposed.

FIG. 3 is a bar graph plotting in vitro toxicity following treatment with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid, against various doses of NAAG to which cortical cell cultures were exposed.

FIG. 4 is a bar graph plotting in vitro toxicity of ischemic insult against various times at which cortical cell cultures were treated with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid.

FIG. 5 is a bar graph plotting in vivo cortical injury volume against various doses of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid with which rats were treated after sustaining middle cerebral artery occlusion.

FIG. 6 is a bar graph plotting in vivo total brain infarct volume of rats against various times at which the rats are treated with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid after sustaining middle cerebral artery occlusion.

FIG. 7 is a bar graph plotting in vivo extracellular glutamate increases in the striatum of rats treated with a vehicle or 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid after sustaining middle cerebral artery occlusion.

FIG. 8 is a bar graph plotting in vivo extracellular 5 glutamate increases in the parietal cortex of rats treated with a vehicle or 2 -(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid after sustaining middle cerebral artery occlusion.

FIG. 9 is a bar graph plotting in vivo extracellular glutamate increases in the frontal cortex of rats treated with a vehicle or 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid after sustaining middle cerebral artery occlusion.

FIG. 10(a) is a photomicrograph of mouse sciatic nerve treated with a vehicle following cryolesion.

FIG. 10(b) is a photomicrograph of mouse sciatic nerve treated with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid following cryolesion.

FIG. 11 is a bar graph plotting percent striatal TH innervation density against the treatment of mice with vehicle alone, vehicle following MPTP, or 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid following MPTP.

FIG. 12 is a bar graph plotting the neurological function code against the treatment of rats with dynorphin A alone or 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid with dynorphin A.

FIG. 13 is a bar graph plotting the CHAT activity of rat spinal cord organotypic cultures against the treatment of the cultures with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid alone, threohydroxyaspartate (THA) alone, or THA with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid.

FIG. 14 is a bar graph plotting the CHAT activity of rat spinal cord organotypic cultures against various doses of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid with which the cultures were treated in the presence of THA.

FIG. 15 is a bar graph plotting the ethanol intake of alcohol-preferring rats against various doses of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid with which the rats were treated.

FIG. 16 is a graph plotting the cumulative nicotine intake of rats during a 1 hour test session, before which the rats had been trained to self-administer nicotine and pretreated with a vehicle or 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid.

FIG. 17 is a graph plotting the cumulative food intake of rats during a 1 hour test session, before which the rats had been trained to self-administer nicotine and pretreated with a vehicle or 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid.

FIG. 18 is a bar graph plotting in vitro cancer cell growth against various doses of quisqualic acid with which LNCAP cells were treated.

FIG. 19 is a bar graph plotting in vitro cancer cell growth against various doses of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid with which LNCAP cells were treated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

"Attention Deficit Disorder" refers to a disorder characterized by developmentally inappropriate inattention and impulsivity, with or without hyperactivity. Inattention means a failure to finish tasks started, easy distractibility, seeming lack of attention, and difficulty concentrating on tasks requiring sustained attention. Impulsivity means acting before thinking, difficulty taking turns, problems organizing work, and constant shifting from one activity to another. Hyperactivity means difficulty staying seated and sitting still, and running or climbing excessively.

"Compound 3" refers to 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (PMPA).

"Compulsive disorder" refers to any disorder characterized by irresistible impulsive behavior.

Examples of compulsive disorders include without limitation drug dependence, eating disorders, pathological gambling, ADD and Tourette's syndrome.

"Drug dependence" refers to a psychologic addiction or a physical tolerance to a drug. Tolerance means a need to increase the dose progressively in order to produce the effect originally achieved by smaller amounts.

"Eating disorder" refers to compulsive overeating, obesity or severe obesity. Obesity means body weight of 20% over standard height-weight tables. Severe obesity means over 100% overweight.

"Glutamate abnormality" refers to any disease, disorder or condition in which glutamate is implicated, including pathological conditions involving elevated levels of glutamate. Examples of glutamate abnormalities include epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's Disease, schizophrenia, chronic pain, ischemia, neuronal insult and compulsive disorders.

"Glutamate modulator" refers to any composition of matter which alone or in combination with another agent affects the level of glutamate in an animal.

"Inhibition", in the context of enzymes, refers to reversible enzyme inhibition such as competitive, uncompetitive and non-competitive inhibition. Competitive, uncompetitive and non-competitive inhibition can be distinguished by the effects of an inhibitor on the reaction kinetics of an enzyme. Competitive inhibition occurs when the inhibitor combines reversibly with the enzyme in such a way that it competes with a normal substrate for binding at the active site. The affinity between the inhibitor and the enzyme may be measured by the inhibitor constant, K_(i), which is defined as: ##EQU1## wherein [E] is the concentration of the enzyme, [I] is the concentration of the inhibitor, and [EI] is the concentration of the enzyme-inhibitor complex formed by the reaction of the enzyme with the inhibitor. Unless otherwise specified, K_(i) as used herein refers to the affinity between the inventive compounds and NAALADase. "IC₅₀ " is a related term used to define the concentration or amount of a compound which is required to cause a 50% inhibition of the target enzyme.

"Ischemia" refers to localized tissue anemia due to obstruction of the inflow of arterial blood. Global ischemia occurs when blood flow to the entire brain ceases for a period of time, such as may result from cardiac arrest. Focal ischemia occurs when a portion of the brain is deprived of its normal blood supply, such as may result from thromboembolytic occlusion of a cerebral vessel, traumatic head injury, edema or brain tumor. Even if transient, both global and focal ischemia can produce widespread neuronal damage. Although nerve tissue damage occurs over hours or even days following the onset of ischemia, some permanent nerve tissue damage may develop in the initial minutes following cessation of blood flow to the brain. Much of this damage is attributed to glutamate toxicity and secondary consequences of reperfusion of the tissue, such as the release of vasoactive products by damaged endothelium, and the release of cytotoxic products, such as free radicals and leukotrienes, by the damaged tissue.

"Isomers" refer to compounds having the same number and kind of atoms, and hence the same molecular weight, but differing in respect to the arrangement or configuration of the atoms. "Stereoisomers" are isomers that differ only in the arrangement of the atoms in space. "Enantiomers" are a pair of stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images of each other. "Diastereoisomers" are stereoisomers which are not mirror images of each other. "Racemic mixture" means a mixture containing equal parts of individual enantiomers. "Non-racemic mixture" is a mixture containing unequal parts of individual enantiomers or stereoisomers.

"NAAG" refers to N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate, an important peptide component of the brain, with levels comparable to the major inhibitor neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). NAAG is neuron-specific, present in synaptic vesicles and released upon neuronal stimulation in several systems presumed to be glutamatergic. Studies suggest that NAAG may function as a neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator in the central nervous system, or as a precursor of the neurotransmitter glutamate.

"NAALADase" refers to N-acetylated α-linked acidic dipeptidase, a membrane-bound metallopeptidase which catabolizes NAAG to N-acetylaspartate (NAA) and glutamate: ##STR2## NAALAase shows a high affinity for NAAG with a Km of 540 nM. If NAAG is a bioactive peptide, then NAALADase may serve to inactivate NAAG'S synaptic action. Alternatively, if NAAG functions as a precursor for glutamate, the primary function of NAALADase may be to regulate synaptic glutamate availability.

"Nervous function" refers to the various functions of the nervous system, which among other things provide an awareness of the internal and external environments of the body, make possible voluntary and reflex activities between the various structural elements of the organism, and balance the organism's response to environmental changes.

"Nervous insult" refers to any damage to nervous tissue and any disability or death resulting therefrom. The cause of nervous insult may be metabolic, toxic, neurotoxic, iatrogenic, thermal or chemical, and includes without limitation ischemia, hypoxia, cerebrovascular accident, trauma, surgery, pressure, mass effect, hemorrhage, radiation, vasospasm, neurodegenerative disease, neurodegenerative process, infection, Parkinson's disease, ALS, myelination/demyelination process, epilepsy, cognitive disorder, glutamate abnormality and secondary effects thereof. Currently, there is no known effective treatment for nervous tissue damage.

"Nervous tissue" refers to the various components that make up the nervous system, including without limitation neurons, neural support cells, glia, Schwann cells, vasculature contained within and supplying these structures, the central nervous system, the brain, the brain stem, the spinal cord, the junction of the central nervous system with the peripheral nervous system, the peripheral nervous system and allied structures.

"Neuroprotective" refers to the effect of reducing, arresting or ameliorating nervous insult, and protecting, resuscitating or reviving nervous tissue which has suffered nervous insult.

"Pathological gambling" is a condition characterized by a preoccupation with gambling. Similar to psychoactive substance abuse, its effects include development of tolerance with a need to gamble progressively larger amounts of money, withdrawal symptoms, and continued gambling despite severe negative effects on family and occupation.

"Pharmaceutically acceptable salt" refers to a salt of the inventive compounds which possesses the desired pharmacological activity and which is neither biologically nor otherwise undesirable. The salt can be formed with inorganic acids such as acetate, adipate, alginate, aspartate, benzoate, benzenesulfonate, bisulfate butyrate, citrate, camphorate, camphorsulfonate, cyclopentanepropionate, digluconate, dodecylsulfate, ethanesulfonate, fumarate, glucoheptanoate, glycerophosphate, hemisulfate heptanoate, hexanoate, hydrochloride hydrobromide, hydroiodide, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonate, lactate, maleate, methanesulfonate, 2-naphthalenesulfonate, nicotinate, oxalate, thiocyanate, tosylate and undecanoate. Examples of a base salt include ammonium salts, alkali metal salts such as sodium and potassium salts, alkaline earth metal salts such as calcium and magnesium salts, salts with organic bases such as dicyclohexylamine salts, N-methyl-D-glucamine, and salts with amino acids such as arginine and lysine. The basic nitrogen-containing groups can be quarternized with agents including lower alkyl halides such as methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; dialkyl sulfates such as dimethyl, diethyl, dibutyl and diamyl sulfates; long chain halides such as decyl, lauryl, myristyl and stearyl chlorides, bromides and iodides; and aralkyl halides such as benzyl and phenethyl bromides.

"Pharmaceutically acceptable prodrug" refers to a derivative of the inventive compounds which undergoes biotransformation prior to exhibiting its pharmacological effect(s). The prodrug is formulated with the objective(s) of improved chemical stability, improved patient acceptance and compliance, improved bioavailability, prolonged duration of action, improved organ selectivity, improved formulation (e.g., increased hydrosolubility), and/or decreased side effects (e.g., toxicity). The prodrug can be readily prepared from the inventive compounds using methods known in the art, such as those described by Burger's Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Chemistry, Fifth Ed., Vol. 1, pp. 172-178, 949-982 (1995). For example, the inventive compounds can be transformed into prodrugs by converting one or more of he hydroxy or carboxy groups into esters.

"Tourette's syndrome" refers to an autosomal multiple tic disorder characterized by compulsive swearing, multiple muscle tics and loud noises. Tics are brief, rapid, involuntary movements that can be simple or complex; they are stereotyped and repetitive, but not rhythmic. Simple tics, such as eye blinking, often begin as nervous mannerisms. Complex tics often resemble fragments of normal behavior.

"Treating" refers to:

(i) preventing a disease, disorder or condition from occurring in an animal which may be predisposed to the disease, disorder and/or condition but has not yet been diagnosed as having it;

(ii) inhibiting the disease, disorder or condition, i.e., arresting its development; and

(iii) relieving the disease, disorder or condition, i.e., causing regression of the disease, disorder and/or condition.

In relation to drug dependence, "treating" refers to suppressing the psychologic addiction or physical tolerance to the drug of abuse, and relieving or preventing a withdrawal syndrome resulting from the drug dependence.

"Withdrawal syndrome" refers to a disorder characterized by untoward physical changes that occur when the drug is discontinued or when its effect is counteracted by a specific antagonist.

COMPOUNDS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a compound of formula I: ##STR3## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof, wherein:

X is CR₆ R₇, O or NR₈,

R₁ is selected from the group consisting of C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₁ is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent (s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar;

R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are independently elected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are independently unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar; and

Ar is selected from the group consisting of 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, 2-indolyl, 3-indolyl, 4-indolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl, benzyl and phenyl, wherein said Ar is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent (s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C_(l) -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₂ -C₆ alkoxy, C₂ -C₆ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino.

In a preferred embodiment, X is CH₂.

In a more preferred embodiment, R₂ is --(CH₂)₂ COOR₉ ; and R₉ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₉ is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar.

In the most preferred embodiment, R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₉ are hydrogen.

Preferred compounds of formula I are selected from the group consisting of:

2-[[(2-carboxypropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;

2-[[(2-carboxybutyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;

2-[[(2-carboxypentyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;

2-[[(2-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;

2-[[(2-carboxy-3-naphthylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;

2-[[(2-carboxy-3-pyridylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;

2-[[(2-benzyloxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;

2-[[(2-methoxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;

2-[[(3-carboxy-2-methoxycarbonyl)propyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;

2-[[(4-carboxy-2-methoxycarbonyl)butyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; and

pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and prodrugs thereof.

The most preferred compound of formula I is 2-[[(2-carboxypropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof.

The compounds of the present invention possess one or more asymmetric center(s) and thus can be produced as mixtures (racemic and non-racemic) of stereoisomers, or as individual R- and S-stereoisomers. The individual stereoisomers may be obtained by using an optically active starting material, by resolving a racemic or non-racemic mixture of an intermediate at some appropriate stage of synthesis, or by resolving a compound of formula I.

Synthesis of Compounds

The compounds of the present invention can be readily prepared by standard techniques of organic chemistry, utilizing the general synthetic pathways depicted below in Scheme I. Precursor compounds can be prepared by methods known in the art, such as those described by Jackson et al., J. Med. Chem., Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 619-622 (1996) and Froestl et al., J. Med. Chem., Vol. 38, pp. 3313-3331 (1995). ##STR4##

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising:

(i) an effective amount of the compound of formula I; and

(ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Examples of the compound of formula I are set forth above.

METHODS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Method of Inhibiting Naaladase Enzyme Activity

The present invention further relates to a method of inhibiting NAALADase enzyme activity in an animal, comprising administering an effective amount of the compound of formula I to said animal.

Method of Treating Glutamate Abnormality

Although not limited to any one particular theory, it is believed that the compounds of the present invention modulate levels of glutamate by acting on a storage form of glutamate which is hypothesized to be upstream from the effects mediated by the NMDA receptor.

Accordingly, the present invention further relates to a method of treating a glutamate abnormality in an animal, comprising administering an effective amount of a prodrug of the compound of formula I to said animal.

The glutamate abnormality may be any disease, disorder or condition in which glutamate is implicated, including pathological conditions involving elevated levels of glutamate. Examples of glutamate abnormalities include without limitation epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's Disease, schizophrenia, chronic pain, ischemia, peripheral neuropathy, traumatic brain injury and physical damage to the spinal cord. In a preferred embodiment, the glutamate abnormality is selected from the group consisting of ischemia, stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and spinal cord injury.

Method of Treating Compulsive Disorder

The inventors have unexpectedly found that the compounds of the present invention are effective in treating glutamate-related compulsive disorders.

Accordingly, the present invention also relates to a method of treating a compulsive disorder, comprising administering an effective amount of the compound of formula I to a patient in need thereof.

The compulsive disorder may be any disorder characterized by irresistible impulsive behavior. Examples of compulsive disorders treatable by the methods of the present invention include drug dependence, eating disorders, pathological gambling, ADD and Tourette's syndrome.

Preferably, the compulsive disorder is drug dependence. Commonly used drugs with potential for dependence include CNS depressants (opioids, synthetic narcotics, barbiturates, glutethimide, methyprylon, ethchlorvynol, methaqualone, alcohol); anxiolytics (diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, alprazolam, oxazepam, temazepam); stimulants (amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine); and hallucinogens (LSD, mescaline, peyote, marijuana).

More preferably, the drug dependence is alcohol, nicotine, heroin or cocaine dependence.

Method of Effect Neuronal Activity

The inventors have also discovered that inhibition of NAALADase promotes nerve regeneration and myelin formation.

Accordingly, the present invention further relates to a method of effecting a neuronal activity in an animal, comprising administering an effective amount of the compound of formula I to said animal.

The neuronal activity that is effected by the method of the present invention may be selected from the group consisting of: stimulation of damaged neurons, promotion of neuronal regeneration, prevention of neurodegeneration and treatment of a neurological disorder.

Examples of a neurological disorder that is treatable by the method of the present invention include without limitation: trigeminal neuralgia; glossopharyngeal neuralgia; Bell's Palsy; myasthenia gravis; muscular dystrophy; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; progressive muscular atrophy; progressive bulbar inherited muscular atrophy; herniated, ruptured or prolapsed invertebrate disk syndromes; cervical spondylosis; plexus disorders; thoracic outlet destruction syndromes; peripheral neuropathies such as those caused by lead, dapsone, ticks, porphyria, or Guillain-Barre syndrome; Alzheimer's disease; and Parkinson's disease.

The method of the present invention is particularly useful for treating a neurological disorder selected from the group consisting of: peripheral neuropathy caused by physical injury or disease state, traumatic brain injury, physical damage to the spinal cord, stroke associated with brain damage, demyelinating diseases and neurological disorders relating to neurodegeneration. Examples of demyelinating diseases include multiple sclerosis. Examples of neurological disorders relating to neurodegeneration include Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Method of Treating Prostate Disease

Additionally, the present invention relates to a method of treating a prostate disease in an animal, comprising administering an effective amount of the compound of formula I to said animal.

In a preferred embodiment, said prostate disease is prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Method of Treating Cancer

In addition to prostate cancer, other forms of cancer that may be treated with the compounds of the present invention include without limitation: ACTH-producing tumors, acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, cancer of the adrenal cortex, bladder cancer, brain cancer, breast cancer, cervix cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, colorectal cancer, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, Ewing's sarcoma, gallbladder cancer, hairy cell leukemia, head & neck cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, kidney cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer (small and/or non-small cell), malignant peritoneal effusion, malignant pleural effusion, melanoma, mesothelioma, multiple myeloma, neuroblastoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, osteosarcoma, ovary cancer, ovary (germ cell) cancer, pancreatic cancer, penis cancer, retinoblastoma, skin cancer, soft-tissue sarcoma, squamous cell carcinomas, stomach cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, trophoblastic neoplasms, cancer of the uterus, vaginal cancer, cancer of the vulva and Wilm's tumor.

The compounds of the present invention are particularly useful in treating cancer of tissues where NAALADase enzymes reside. Such tissues include the prostate as well as the brain, kidney and testis.

Route of Administration

In the methods of the present invention, the compounds may be administered orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically, rectally, nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir in dosage formulations containing conventional non-toxic pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers, adjuvants and vehicles. The term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrathecal, intraventricular, intrasternal or intracranial injection and infusion techniques. Invasive techniques are preferred, particularly direct administration to damaged neuronal tissue.

To be effective therapeutically as central nervous system targets, the compounds of the present invention should readily penetrate the blood-brain barrier when peripherally administered. Compounds which cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier can be effectively administered by an intraventricular route.

The compounds may also be administered in the form of sterile injectable preparations, for example, as sterile injectable aqueous or oleaginous suspensions.

These suspensions can be formulated according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable preparations may also be sterile injectable solutions or suspensions in non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluents or solvents, for example, as solutions in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition, sterile fixed oils are conventionally employed as solvents or suspending mediums. For this purpose, any bland fixed oil such as a synthetic mono- or di-glyceride may be employed. Fatty acids such as oleic acid and its glyceride derivatives, including olive oil and castor oil, especially in their polyoxyethylated forms, are useful in the preparation of injectables.

These oil solutions or suspensions may also contain long-chain alcohol diluents or dispersants. Additionally, the compounds may be administered orally in the form of capsules, tablets, aqueous suspensions or solutions. Tablets may contain carriers such as lactose and corn starch, and/or lubricating agents such as magnesium stearate. Capsules may contain diluents including lactose and dried corn starch.

Aqueous suspensions may contain emulsifying and suspending agents combined with the active ingredient.

The oral dosage forms may further contain sweetening and/or flavoring and/or coloring agents.

The compounds may further be administered rectally in the form of suppositories. These compositions can be prepared by mixing the drug with suitable non-irritating excipients which are solid at room temperature, but liquid at rectal temperature such that they will melt in the rectum to release the drug. Such excipients include cocoa butter, beeswax and polyethylene glycols.

Moreover, the compounds may be administered topically, especially when the conditions addressed for treatment involve areas or organs readily accessible by topical application, including neurological disorders of the eye, the skin or the lower intestinal tract.

For topical application to the eye, or ophthalmic use, the compounds can be formulated as micronized suspensions in isotonic, pH adjusted sterile saline or, preferably, as a solution in isotonic, pH adjusted sterile saline, either with or without a preservative such as benzylalkonium chloride. Alternatively, the compounds may be formulated into ointments, such as petrolatum.

For topical application to the skin, the compounds can be formulated into suitable ointments containing the compounds suspended or dissolved in, for example, mixtures with one or more of the following: mineral oil, liquid petrolatum, white petrolatum, propylene glycol, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene compound, emulsifying wax and water. Alternatively, the compounds can be formulated into suitable lotions or creams containing the active compound suspended or dissolved in, for example, a mixture of one or more of the following: mineral oil, sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate 60, cetyl ester wax, cetearyl alcohol, 2-octyldodecanol, benzyl alcohol and water.

Topical application to the lower intestinal tract can be effected in rectal suppository formulations (see above) or in suitable enema formulations.

The compounds of the present invention may be administered by a single dose, multiple discrete doses or continuous infusion. Since the compounds are small, easily diffusible and relatively stable, they are well suited to continuous infusion. Pump means, particularly subcutaneous pump means, are preferred for continuous infusion.

Dosage

Dose levels on the order of about 0.1 mg to about 10,000 mg of the active ingredient compound are useful in the treatment of the above conditions, with preferred levels being about 0.1 mg to about 1,000 mg. The specific dose level for any particular patient will vary depending upon a variety of factors, including the activity of the specific compound employed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the time of administration; the rate of excretion; drug combination; the severity of the particular disease being treated; and the form of administration. Typically, in vitro dosage-effect results provide useful guidance on the proper doses for patient administration. Studies in animal models are also helpful. The considerations for determining the proper dose levels are well known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment, the compounds are administered in lyophilized form. In this case, 1 to 100 mg of a compound of the present invention may be lyophilized in individual vials, together with a carrier and a buffer, such as mannitol and sodium phosphate. The compound may be reconstituted in the vials with bacteriostatic water before administration.

In treating global ischemia, the compounds of the present invention are preferably administered orally, rectally, parenterally or topically at least 1 to 6 times daily, and may follow an initial bolus dose of higher concentration.

The compounds of the present invention may be administered in combination with one or more therapeutic agents, including chemotherapeutic agents. TABLE I provides known median dosages for selected chemotherapeutic agents. Specific dose levels for these agents and other therapeutic agents will depend upon considerations such as those identified above for the compounds of the present invention.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC AGENT                                                                               MEDIAN DOSAGE                                            ______________________________________                                         Asparaginase          10,000 units                                             Bleomycin Sulfate     15 units                                                 Carboplatin           50-450 mg                                                Carmustine            100 mg                                                   Cisplatin             10-50 mg                                                 Cladribine            10 mg                                                    Cyclophosphamide      100 mg-2 gm                                              (lyophilized)                                                                  Cyclophosphamide (non-                                                                               100 mg-2 gm                                              lyophilized)                                                                   Cytarabine (lyophilized                                                                              100 mg-2 gm                                              powder)                                                                        Dacarbazine           100 mg-200 mg                                            Dactinomycin          0.5 mg                                                   Daunorubicin          20 mg                                                    Diethylstilbestrol    250 mg                                                   Doxorubicin           10-150 mg                                                Etidronate            300 mg                                                   Etoposide             100 mg                                                   Floxuridine           500 mg                                                   Fludarabine Phosphate 50 mg                                                    Fluorouracil          500 mg-5 gm                                              Goserelin             3.6 mg                                                   Granisetron Hydrochloride                                                                            1 mg                                                     Idarubicin            5-10 mg                                                  Ifosfamide            1-3 gm                                                   Leucovorin Calcium    50-350 mg                                                Leuprolide            3.75-7.5 mg                                              Mechlorethamine       10 mg                                                    Medroxyprogesterone   1 gm                                                     Melphalan             50 gm                                                    Methotrexate          20 mg-1 gm                                               Mitomycin             5-40 mg                                                  Mitoxantrone          20-30 mg                                                 Ondansetron Hydrochloride                                                                            40 mg                                                    Paclitaxel            30 mg                                                    Pamidronate Disodium  30-*90 mg                                                Pegaspargase          750 units                                                Plicamycin            2,500 mcgm                                               Streptozocin          1 gm                                                     Thiotepa              15 mg                                                    Teniposide            50 mg                                                    Vinblastine           10 mg                                                    Vincristine           1-5 mg                                                   Aldesleukin           22 million units                                         Epoetin Alfa          2,000-10,000 units                                       Filgrastim            300-480 mcgm                                             Immune Globulin       500 mg-10 gm                                             Interferon Alpha-2a   3-36 million units                                       Interferon Alpha-2b   3-50 million units                                       Levamisole            50 mg                                                    Octreotide            1,000-5,000 mcgm                                         Sargramostim          250-500 mcgm                                             ______________________________________                                    

Administration Regimen

For the methods of the present invention, any administration regimen regulating the timing and sequence of drug delivery can be used and repeated as necessary to effect treatment. Such regimen may include pretreatment and/or co-administration with additional therapeutic agents.

To maximize protection of nervous tissue from nervous insult, the compounds should be administered to the affected cells as soon as possible. In situations where nervous insult is anticipated, the compounds should be administered before the expected nervous insult. Such situations of increased likelihood of nervous insult include surgery (cartoid endarterectomy, cardiac, vascular, aortic, orthopedic); endovascular procedures such as arterial catherization (cartoid, vertebral, aortic, cardia, renal, spinal, Adamkiewicz); injections of embolic agents; coils or balloons for hemostasis; interruptions of vascularity for treatment of brain lesions; and predisposing medical conditions such as crescendo transient ischemic attacks, emboli and sequential strokes. Where pretreatment for stroke or ischemia is impossible or impracticable, it is important to get the compounds to the affected cells as soon as possible during or after the event. In the time period between strokes, diagnosis and treatment procedures should be minimized to save the cells from further damage and death.

For patients with prostate cancer that is neither advanced nor metastatic, the compounds of the present invention may be administered (i) prior to surgery or radiation treatment to reduce the risk of metastasis; (ii) during surgery or in conjunction with radiation treatment; and/or (iii) after surgery or radiation therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence and to inhibit the growth of any residual tumorous cells.

For patients with advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, the compounds of the present invention may be administered as a continuous supplement to, or as a replacement for, hormonal ablation in order to slow tumor cell growth in both the untreated primary tumor and the existing metastatic lesions.

The methods of the present invention are particularly useful where shed cells could not be removed by surgical intervention. After post-surgical recovery, the methods of the present invention would be effective in reducing the chances of recurrence of a tumor engendered by such shed cells.

Combination With Other Treatments

a. Nervous Insult

In methods of treating nervous insult (particularly acute ischemic stroke and global ischemia caused by drowning and head trauma), the compounds of the present invention can be co-administered with one or more therapeutic agents, preferably agents which can reduce the risk of stroke (such as aspirin), and more preferably agents which can reduce the risk of a second ischemic event (such as ticlopidine).

The compounds of the present invention can be co-administered with one or more therapeutic agents either (i) together in a single formulation, or (ii) separately in individual formulations designed for optimal release rates of their respective active agent. Each formulation may contain from about 0.01% to about 99.99% by weight, preferably from about 3.5% to about 60% by weight, of a compound of the present invention, as well as one or more pharmaceutical excipients, such as wetting, emulsifying and pH buffering agents.

b. Prostate Disease

(i) Surgery and Radiation Treatment

In general, surgery and radiation treatment are employed as potentially curative therapies for patients with localized prostate cancer who are under 70 years of age and are expected to live at least 10 more years.

Approximately 70% of newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients fall into this category. Approximately 90% of these patients (65% of total patients) undergo surgery, while approximately 10% of these patients (7% of total patients) undergo radiation treatment.

Histopathological examination of surgical specimens reveals that approximately 63% of patients undergoing surgery (40% of total patients) have locally extensive tumors or regional (lymph node) metastasis that was undetected at initial diagnosis. These patients are at a significantly greater risk of recurrence. Approximately 40% of these patients will actually develop recurrence within five years after surgery. Results after radiation treatment are even less encouraging. Approximately 80% of patients who have undergone radiation treatment as their primary therapy have disease persistence or develop recurrence or metastasis within five years after treatment.

Currently, most prostate cancer patients undergoing surgery and radiation treatment do not receive any immediate follow-up therapy. Rather, they are monitored frequently for elevated Prostate Specific Antigen ("PSA"), which is the primary indicator of recurrence or metastasis.

Based on the above statistics, there is considerable opportunity to use the present invention in conjunction with surgery and/or radiation treatment.

(ii) Hormonal Therapy

Hormonal ablation is the most effective palliative treatment for the 10% of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. Hormonal ablation by medication and/or orchiectomy is used to block hormones that promote further growth and metastasis of prostate cancer. With time, both the primary and metastatic tumors of virtually all of these patients become hormone-independent and resistant to therapy. Approximately 50% of patients with metastatic cancer die within three years after initial diagnosis, and 75% of such patients die within five years after diagnosis. Continuous supplementation with the compounds of the present invention may be used to prevent or reverse this potentially metastasis-permissive state.

(iii) Chemotherapy

While chemotherapy has been successful in treating some forms of cancer, it has shown slight therapeutic value in treating prostate cancer where it is generally reserved as a last resort. Accordingly, the opportunity to treat prostate cancer by combining chemotherapy with the methods of the present invention will be rare. When combined, however, such treatments should be more effective than chemotherapy alone in controlling prostate cancer.

(iv) Immunotherapy

The compounds of the present invention may also be used in combination with monoclonal antibodies to treat prostate cancer. Such combined treatment is particularly effective for patients with pelvic lymph node involvement, of which only 34% survive after 5 years. An example of such monoclonal antibodies is cell membrane-specific anti-prostate antibody.

The present invention may also be used with immunotherapies based on polyclonal or monoclonal antibody-derived reagents. Monoclonal antibody-derived reagents are preferred. These reagents are well known in the art, and include radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies such as monoclonal antibodies conjugated with strontium-89.

(v) Cryotherapy

The methods of the present invention may also be used in conjunction with cryotherapy for treatment of prostate cancer.

In Vivo Toxicity of NAALADase Inhibitors

To examine the toxicological effect of NAALADase inhibition in vivo, a group of mice were injected with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid, a NAALADase inhibitor of high activity, in doses of 1, 5, 10, 30, 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg body weight. The mice were subsequently observed two times per day for 5 consecutive days. The survival rate at each dose level is provided below in TABLE I. The results show that the NAALADase inhibitor is non-toxic to mice, suggesting that it would be similarly non-toxic to humans when administered at therapeutically effective amounts.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF NAALADASE INHIBITORS                                  ______________________________________                                         Dose   1       5      10    30   100   300  500                                (mg/kg)                                                                        Survival                                                                              100     100    100   100  100   100  66.7                               Rate After                                                                     5 days (%)                                                                     ______________________________________                                    

In Vitro Inhibition of NAALADase Activity

Various compounds of formula I were tested for in vitro inhibition of NAALADase activity. The results are provided below in Table II.

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         IN VITRO INHIBITION OF NAALADASE ACTIVITY                                      Compound                    K.sub.i (nM)                                       ______________________________________                                          ##STR5##                   740.0000                                            ##STR6##                   198.5000                                            ##STR7##                   4250.0000                                           ##STR8##                   12.6667                                             ##STR9##                   0.5700                                              ##STR10##                  95.0000                                             ##STR11##                  1.5000                                             ______________________________________                                    

Protocol for Assaying In Vitro Inhibition of NAALADase Activity

The amount of [³ H]Glu liberated from [³ H]NAAG in 50 mM Tris-Cl buffer was measured for 15 minutes at 37° C. using 30-50 μg of synaptosomal protein. Substrate and product were resolved by anion-exchange liquid chromatography. Duplicate assays were performed so that no more than 20% of the NAAG was digested, representing the linear range of peptidase activity. Quisqualate (100 AM) was included in parallel assay tubes to confirm the specificity of the measurements.

In Vitro Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Ischemia

To examine the in vitro effect of NAALADase inhibitors on ischemia, cortical cell cultures were treated with compounds of formula I during an ischemic insult (potassium cyanide and 2-deoxyglucose) and for one hour thereafter (for experimental details, see Vornov et al., J. Neurochem, Vol. 65, No. 4, pp. 1681-1691 (1995)).

The neuroprotective effect of each tested compound is provided below in TABLE III (a). Neuroprotective effect is expressed as EC₅₀, the concentration which is required to cause a 50% reduction in glutamate toxicity following an ischemic insult.

                  TABLE III(A)                                                     ______________________________________                                         Compound                    EC.sub.50 (nM)                                     ______________________________________                                          ##STR12##                  0.0110                                              ##STR13##                  0.0360                                             ______________________________________                                    

The dose-response of this effect, as measured by the % toxicity at different concentrations of NAALADase inhibitor 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid, is provided below in TABLE III (b) and graphically presented in FIG. 1.

                  TABLE III(b)                                                     ______________________________________                                         Dose              % Toxicity                                                   ______________________________________                                         Control           100.00 ± 9.0 (n = 5)                                      100 pM            66.57 ± 4.38 (n = 5)                                       1 nM             42.31 ± 9.34 (n = 5)                                       10 nM            33.08 ± 9.62 (n = 5)                                      100 nM            30.23 ± 9.43 (n = 5)                                       1 μM           8.56 ± 8.22 (n = 5)                                      ______________________________________                                    

The results show that toxicity decreased as the concentration of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid increased, suggesting that NAALADase inhibitors would be effective in treating ischemia or neuronal damage caused by ischemia.

The methods for this assay are described in detail below. Specifically, cell cultures were exposed to potassium cyanide and 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) (10 mM) and analyzed for release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

In Vitro Toxicity of NAAG

To examine the in vitro toxicity of NAAG, cortical cell cultures were treated with NAAG (in concentrations ranging from 3 μM to 3 mM) for 20 minutes. The toxicity measurement for each concentration of NAAG is provided below in TABLE IV and graphically presented in FIG. 2.

                  TABLE IV                                                         ______________________________________                                         Dose of NAAG      % Toxicity                                                   ______________________________________                                          3 μM           3.51 (n = 1)                                                 10 μM          4.30 ± 3.12 (n = 3)                                       30 μM         11.40 ± 6.17 (n = 3)                                      100 μM         12.66 ± 5.50 (n = 3)                                      300 μM         13.50 ± 4.0 (n = 3)                                        1 mM             21.46 ± 4.20 (n = 3)                                       3 mM             45.11 ± 4.96 (n = 3)                                      ______________________________________                                    

The results show that toxicity increased as the concentration of NAAG increased. The toxicity is attributed to the release of glutamate by NAAG when cleaved by NAALADase.

In Vitro Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Toxicity of NAAG

To examine the effect of NAALADase inhibitors on in vitro toxicity of NAAG, cortical cell cultures were treated with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (1 μM) during exposure to HAAG and for one hour thereafter. The toxicity measurement for each concentration of NAAG is provided below in TABLE V and graphically presented in FIG. 3.

                  TABLE V                                                          ______________________________________                                         Dose of NAAG      % Toxicity                                                   ______________________________________                                          3 μM          -4.71 (n = 1)                                                 10 μM         -3.08 ± 0.81 (n = 3)                                       30 μM         -4.81 ± 1.13 (n = 3)                                      100 μM         -2.87 ± 0.78 (n = 3)                                      300 μM         -2.09 ± 0.48 (n = 3)                                       1 mM              0.26 ± 1.11 (n = 3)                                       3 mM             16.83 ± 8.76 (n = 3)                                      ______________________________________                                    

When compared to the results of FIG. 2/TABLE IV, the results of FIG. 3/TABLE V show that toxicity decreased considerably after treatment with the NAALADase inhibitor, suggesting that it would be effective in treating glutamate abnormalities.

In Vitro Assay of NAALADASE Inhibitors on Ischemia at Different Times of Administration

To examine the effect of NAALADase inhibitors on in vitro ischemic toxicity at different times of administration, cortical cell cultures were treated with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (i) during an ischemic insult and for one hour thereafter (exposure and recovery); (ii) for one hour following ischemic insult (recovery only); and (iii) for one hour beginning 30 minutes after ischemic insult (delayed 30 minutes). The toxicity measurement for each time of administration is provided below in TABLE VI and graphically presented in FIG. 4.

                  TABLE VI                                                         ______________________________________                                         Time of Administration                                                         Relative to Ischemic Insult                                                                      % Toxicity                                                   ______________________________________                                         Control           100.00%                                                      Exposure & Recovery                                                                              2.54%                                                        Recovery Only     9.03%                                                        Delayed 30 Minutes                                                                               31.49%                                                       ______________________________________                                    

The results show that significant neuronal protection is achieved when NAALADase inhibitors are administered during exposure and recovery from an ischemic insult, and even after a 30 minute delay following the ischemic insult.

Protocol for In Vitro Toxicity Assay

a. Cell Culture

Dissociated cortical cell cultures are prepared using the papain-dissociation method of Heuttner and Baughman (1986) as modified by Murphy and Baraban (1990). See TABLE VII for the Dissociated Culture Protocol as used herein. Fetuses of embryonic day 17 are removed from timed pregnancy rats (Harlan Sprague Dawley). The cortex is rapidly dissected out in Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline, stripped of meninges, and incubated in a papain solution for 15 minutes at 37° C. The tissue is then mechanically triturated and pelleted at 500 g (1000-2000 rpm on swinging bucket Beckman). The pellet is resuspended in a DNAase solution, triturated with a 10 ml pipette x15-20, layered over a "10×10" solution containing albumin and trypsin inhibitor (see TABLE VII for an example of a "10×10" solution), repelleted, and resuspended in a plating medium containing 10 fetal bovine serum (HyClone A-1111-L), 5% heat-inactivated Equine serum (HyClone A-3311-L), and 84% modified Earle's basal medium (MEM) (Gibco 51200-020) with high glucose (4.5 g/L), and 1 g/L NaHCO₃. Each 24-well plate is pretreated with poly-D-lysine (0.5 ml/well of 10 μg/ml) for 1 h and rinsed with water before plating. Cultures are plated at 2.5×10⁶ cells/ml with each well of a 24 well plate receiving 500 μl/well. Alternatively, 35 mm dishes can be plated at 2 ml/dish, 6 well plates at 2 ml/well, or 12 well plates at 1 ml/well. After plating, 50% of the medium is changed every 3-4 days with growth serum containing 5% heat-inactivated Equine serum (HyClone A-3311-L), 95% modified Earle's basal medium (MEM)(Gibco 51200-020), and 1% L-Glutamine (Gibco 25030-081). Experiments are performed after 21 days in cultures. Cultures are maintained in a 5% CO₂ atmosphere at 37° C. These methodologies are described in further detail below in the TABLE VII.

                  TABLE VII                                                        ______________________________________                                         DISSOCIATED CULTURE PROTOCOL                                                   ______________________________________                                         I. PREPARE SOLUTIONS                                                           ______________________________________                                         Stocks/Solutions                                                               DNAase Stock, 1 ml                                                                              Dulbecco's PBS, 500 ml                                        (100×)     4 gm NaCl (J. T. Baker 3624-                                  5 mg DNAase I    01);                                                          (Worthington LS002004);                                                                         1.06 gm Na.sub.2 HPO.sub.4.7H.sub.2 O (Fisher                 1 ml dissoc. EBSS;                                                                              S373-3);                                                      freeze as 50 μl                                                                              100 mg KCl (Fisher P217-                                      aliquots.        500);                                                                          100 mg KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 (Sigma P-                                             0662);                                                                         500 ml dH.sub.2 O;                                                             adjust pH to 7.4 and                                                           sterile filter.                                               Dissociated EBSS, 500 ml                                                                        EDTA Stock, 10 ml                                             1.1 gm NaHCO.sub.3 ;                                                                            184.2 mg EDTA sodium salt                                     50 ml EBSS stock (Gibco                                                                         (Sigma ED4S);                                                 14050-025);      10 ml dH.sub.2 O;                                             450 ml dH.sub.2 O;                                                                              sterile filter.                                               sterile filter.                                                                10 and 10 Stock, 10 ml                                                                          Poly-D-Lysine Stock, 5 ml                                     100 mg BSA (Sigma A-                                                                            5 mg Poly-D-Lysine, 100-150                                   4919);           K (Sigma P-6407);                                             100 mg Trypsin Inhibitor                                                                        5 ml sterile water;                                           from Egg White (Sigma T-                                                                        keep frozen.                                                  2011);                                                                         10 ml dissoc. EBSS;                                                            sterile filter.                                                                Media                                                                          Dissociated growth, 500                                                                         Plating media, 300 ml                                         ml               250 ml MEM containing                                         500 ml MEM (Gibco 51200-                                                                        glucose and sodium                                            020) containing glucose                                                                         bicarbonate (2.25 gm                                          and NaHCO.sub.3  glucose and 0.5 gm NaHCO.sub.3 in                             (2.25 gm glucose and 0.5                                                                        500 ml Gibco MEM 51200-                                       gm NaHCO.sub.3); 020);                                                         25 ml heat-inactivated                                                                          30 ml Fetal Bovine Serum                                      Equine Serum (HyClone A-                                                                        (HyClone A-1111-L).                                           3311-L);                                                                       5 ml L-Glutamine (200                                                          mM, 100× stock, Gibco                                                    25030-081);                                                                    sterile filter.                                                                15 ml heat-inactivated                                                         Equine Serum (HyClone A-                                                       3311-L);                                                                       3 ml L-Glutamine (200                                                          mM, 100× stock, Gibco                                                    25030-081); (Gibco                                                             15140-015);                                                                    1 ml Penicillin-                                                               Streptomycin stock.                                                            For papain dissociation:                                                                        For DNAase treatment:                                         4 mg Cysteine (C-8277);                                                                         DNAase, 5 ml                                                  25 ml dissoc. EBSS;                                                                             4.5 ml dissoc. EBSS;                                          250 μl Papain stock                                                                          500 μl "10 and 10" stock;                                  (Worthington LS003126);                                                                         50 μl DNAase stock.                                        place in 37° C. waterbath                                                                "10 and 10", 5 ml                                             until clear.     4.5 ml of EBSS;                                                                500 μl "10 and 10" stock.                                  ______________________________________                                         II. COAT DISHES                                                                ______________________________________                                         Use poly-d-lysine stock at 1:100 dilution to coat 24-                          well plates (0.5 ml/well) or at 1:10 dilution to coat                          35 mm glass cover slips (1.0 ml/coverslip).                                    Leave until end of dissection.                                                 ______________________________________                                         III. DISSECT TISSUE                                                            ______________________________________                                         Use Harlan Sprague-Dawley timed pregnancy rats,                                ordered to arrive at E-17.                                                     Decapitate, spray abdomen down with 70% EtOH.                                  Remove uterus through midline incision and place in                            sterile dPBS.                                                                  Remove brains from embryos, leaving them in dPBS.                              Brain removal: Penetrate skull and skin with fine                              forceps at lambda. Pull back to open posterior fossa.                          Then move forceps anteriorly to separate sagittal                              suture. Brain can be removed by scooping back from                             olfactory bulbs under the brain.                                               Move brains to fresh dPBS; subsequently, dissect away                          from cortex.                                                                   ______________________________________                                         IV. PAPAIN DISSOCIATION                                                        ______________________________________                                         Transfer cortices equally to two 15 ml tubes                                   containing sterile papain solution, maintained at 37° C.                Triturate x1 with sterile 10 ml pipette.                                       Incubate only for 15 minutes at 37° C.                                  Spin at 500 G for 5 minutes (1000-2000 RPM on swinging                         bucket Beckman).                                                               ______________________________________                                         V. DNAase TREATMENT                                                            ______________________________________                                         Remove supernatant and any DNA gel layer from cell                             pellet (or pick up and remove pellet with pipette).                            Move cell pellet to DNAase solution.                                           Triturate with 10 ml pipette, x15-20.                                          Layer cell suspension over the "10 and 10" solution by                         pipetting it against the side of the tubes.                                    Spin again at 500 G for 5 minutes (cells will spin                             into "10 and 10" layer).                                                       Wash tube sides with plating media without disturbing                          pellet.                                                                        Pipette off the media wash and repeat the wash.                                ______________________________________                                         VI. PLATE                                                                      ______________________________________                                         Add about 4.5 ml plating media to each pellet for 5 ml                         volume.                                                                        Re-suspend with 10 ml pipette.                                                 Pool cells into a single tube.                                                 Quickly add 10 μl of the suspended cells to a                               hemocytometer so that they do not settle.                                      Count cells per large square, corresponding to 10                              million cells/ml.                                                              Put re-suspended cells into a larger container so that                         they number 2.5 million cells/ml.                                              Triturate to homogeneity.                                                      Finish coating plates:                                                         Aspirate or dump Lysine;                                                       Wash x1 with sterile water and dump.                                           Add plating media, with cells, to the plates as                                follows:                                                                       35 mm dishes                                                                            2 ml/dish;                                                            6 well plate                                                                            2 ml/well;                                                            12 well plate                                                                           1 ml/well;                                                            24 well plate                                                                           500 μl/well.                                                       ______________________________________                                         VII. FEED                                                                      ______________________________________                                         Cultures are usually made on Thursdays.                                        Start feeding twice a week; beginning the following                            Monday, feedings on Mondays and Fridays.                                       Remove 50% of volume and replace with fresh growth                             media.                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

b. Ischemic Insult using potassium cyanide and 2-deoxyglucose

Twenty-one to twenty-four days following the initial cortical cell plating, the experiment is performed. The cultures are washed three times in HEPES buffered saline solution containing no phosphate. The cultures are then exposed to potassium cyanide (KCN)(5 mM) and 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) (10 mM) for 20 minutes at 37° C. These concentrations were shown previously to induce maximal toxicity (Vornov et al., J. Neurochem, Vol. 65, No. 4, pp. 1681-1691 (1995)). At the end of 24 hours, the cultures are analyzed for release of the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a standard measure of cell lysis. LDH measurements are performed according to the method of Koh and Choi, J. Neuroscience Methods (1987).

c. NAAG Induced Neurotoxicity

Cultures are assessed microscopically and those with uniform neuronal densities are used in the NAAG neurotoxicity trials.

At the time of the experiment, the cultures are washed once in HEPES-buffered saline solution (HBSS; NaCl 143.4 mM, HEPES 5 mM, KCl 5.4 mM, MgSO₄ 1.2 mM, NaH₂ PO₄ 1.2 mM, CaCl₂ 2.0 mM, D-glucose 10 mM) (Vornov et al., 1995) and then exposed to various concentrations of NAAG for 20 minutes at 37° C. NAAG concentrations range from 3 μM to 3 mM, and include 3 μM, 10 μM, 30 μM, 100 μM, 300 μM, 1 mM, and 3 mM. At the end of exposure, the cells are washed once with HEPES buffered saline solution and then replaced with serum free modified Earle's basal medium. The cultures are then returned to the CO₂ incubator for 24 hour recovery.

d. Lactate Dehydrogenase Assay

Release of the cytosolic enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a standard measure of cell lysis, is used to quantify injury (Koh and Choi, 1987). LDH-activity measurements are normalized to control for variability between culture preparations (Koh and Choi, 1987). Each independent experiment contains a control condition in which no NAALADase inhibitors are added; a small amount of LDH activity is found in these controls. This control measurement is subtracted from each experimental point. These values are normalized within each experiment as a percentage of the injury caused by NAAG/ischemia. Only main effects of NAALADase inhibitors are considered; interactions between dose and condition are not examined statistically.

A measurement of the potency of each compound tested is made by measuring the percentage of LDH release into the growth media after exposure to NAAG/ischemia plus NAALADase inhibitor or NAAG/ischemia plus saline (control). Since high concentrations of glutamate may be toxic to cells in certain circumstances, measurement of glutamate toxicity is observed using LDH as a standard measurement technique.

In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Cortical Injury Following MCAO in SHRSP Rats

To examine the effect of NAALADase inhibitors on cortical injury in vivo, the infarct volume was measured in SHRSP rats which had sustained middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and had subsequently been treated with (i) saline; (ii) 10 mg/kg of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid followed by 2 mg/kg/hr of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid for 1 hour; or (iii) 100 mg/kg of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid followed by 20 mg/kg/hr of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid for one hour.

The cortical injury volume for each group of rats is provided below in TABLE VIII and graphically presented in FIG. 5.

                  TABLE VIII                                                       ______________________________________                                         Cortical Injury Volume (mm.sup.3) ± S.E.M.                                  Control          184.62 ± 33.52 (n = 10)                                    10 mg/kg         135.00 ± 32.18 (n = 10)                                    100 mg/kg         65.23 ± 32.18 (n = 10)                                    Cortical Injury Volume (% injury) ± S.E.M.                                  Control           34.44 ± 6.53 (n = 10)                                     10 mg/kg3         29.14 ± 7.68 (n = 10)                                     100 mg/kg         13.98 ± 6.64 (n = 10)                                     Cortical Protection (% protection)                                             Control           0%                                                           10 mg/kg          27%                                                          100 mg/kg         65%                                                          ______________________________________                                    

The results show that cortical injury volume decreased and cortical protection increased as the amount of NAALADase inhibitor increased, further supporting the neuroprotective effect of the NAALADase inhibitor.

Protocol for In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Cortical Injury

A colony of SHRSP rats is bred at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine from three pairs of male and female rats obtained from the National Institutes of Health (Laboratory, Sciences Section, Veterinary Resources Program, National Center for Research Resources, Bethesda, Md.). All rats are kept in a virus-free environment and maintained on regular diet (NIH 31, Zeigler Bros, Inc.) with water ad libitum. All groups of rats are allowed to eat and drink water until the morning of the experiment.

Transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is induced by advancing a 4-0 surgical nylon suture into the internal carotid artery (ICA) to block the origin of the MCA (Koizumi, 1986; Longa, 1989; Chen, 1992). The rats are anesthetized with 4% halothane, and maintained with 1.0% to 1.5% halothane in air enriched oxygen using a face mask. Rectal temperature is maintained at 37.0±0.5° C. throughout the surgical procedure using a heating lamp. The right femoral artery is cannulated for measuring blood gases (pH, oxygen tension [PO₂ ], carbon dioxide tension [PCO₂ ]) before and during ischemia, for monitoring blood pressure during the surgery. The right common carotid artery (CCA) is exposed through a midline incision; a self-retraining retractor is positioned between the digastric and mastoid muscles, and the omohyoid muscle is divided. The right external carotid artery (ECA) is dissected and ligated. The occipital artery branch of the ECA is then isolated and coagulated. Next, the right internal carotid artery (ICA) is isolated until the pterygopalatine artery is exposed, and carefully separated from the adjacent vagus nerve. The pterygopalatine artery is ligated with 4-0 silk suture close to its origin.

After the CCA is ligated with 4-0 silk suture, a 4-0 silk suture to prevent bleeding from a puncture site, through which a 2.5 cm length of 4-0 monofilament nylon suture (Ethilon), its tip rounded by heating near a electric cautery, is introduced into the ICA lumen. A 6-0 silk suture is tightened around the intraluminal nylon suture at the bifurcation to prevent bleeding, and the stretched sutures at the CCA and the ICA are released. The nylon suture is then gently advanced as far as 20 mm.

Anesthesia is terminated after 10 minutes of MCA occlusion in both groups, and the rats were awakened 5 minutes thereafter. After 2 hours of ischemia, anesthesia is reanesthetized, and reperfusion is performed by withdrawing the intraluminal nylon suture until the distal tip became visible at the origin of the ICA.

Arterial pH and PaCO₂, and partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂) are measured with a self-calibrating Radiometer electrode system (ABL 3; Copenhagen, Denmark). Hemoglobin and arterial oxygen content are measured with a hemoximeter (Radiometer, Model OSM3; Copenhagen, Denmark). Blood glucose is measured with a glucose analyzer (model 2300A, Yellow Springs Instruments, Yellow Springs, Ohio).

Each group is exposed to 2 hours of right MCA occlusion and 22 hours of reperfusion. All variables but the rectal temperature are measured at baseline, at 15 minutes and 45 minutes of right MCA occlusion. The rectal temperature is measured at baseline, at 0 and 15 min of MCA occlusion, and at 0 and 22 hours of reperfusion.

In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Brain Injury Following MCAO in Spraque-Dawley Rats

To examine the neuroprotective effect of NAALADase inhibitors on brain injury in vivo, Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a vehicle or 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid before and after sustaining a 2 hour transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). In the control group (n=8), the rats received an IP injection of saline 30 minutes post-occlusion followed by IV saline infusion at a rate of 0.5 ml/hr. In the drug treated groups, the rats received an IP injection of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid at a dose of 100 mg/kg at 20 minutes pre-occlusion (n=5), 30 minutes post-occlusion (n=9), 60 minutes post-occlusion (n=7), or 120 minutes post-occlusion (n=4), followed by a 20 mg/kg/hr IV infusion for 4 hours (infusion rate=0.5 ml/hr). There was a 15 minute delay between IP and IV treatments for each rat. Twenty two hours following the reperfusion, the rats were euthanized and their brains were removed. Seven coronal sections (2 mm thick) were taken and stained with 1% solution of 2,3,5-triphenyltetraxolium chloride (TTC) for 20 minutes and then fixed in 10% formalin. The anterior and posterior surface of the most rostral brain section and the posterior surface of each of the other 6 sections were imaged. The quantification of infarct size of each brain was obtained using a computer aided-digital imaging analysis system (LOATS). The brain regions completely lacking TTC-staining were characterized as representative of infarcted tissue. The total infarct volume for each rat was calculated by numeric integration of the respective sequential brain areas.

The total infarct volume for each group of rats is graphically presented in FIG. 6.

Vehicle treated rats exhibited a mean total brain infarct volume of 293±26 mm³. Rats treated with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid either before or after the ischemic insult exhibited significantly lower mean total brain infarct volumes of 122±26 mm³ (p=0.003 vs. vehicle) for 20 minute pre-treatment, 208±40 mm³ (p=0.2 vs. vehicle) for 30 minute post-treatment, 125±57 mm³ (p=0.015 vs. vehicle) for 60 minute post-treatment, and 133±35 mm³ (p=0.005 vs. vehicle) for 120 minute post-treatment. These results indicate that 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid is neuroprotective in rat MCAO model of stroke when administered up to 2 hours post-occlusion.

Protocol for In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Brain Injury

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (260-320 g) were used. Prior to the experiment, the rats were individually housed and allowed free access to food and water. Each rat received two surgeries: jugular vein cannulation for IV infusion and MCAO. During surgeries, the rat was anesthetized with 2% halothane delivered in oxygen via an inhalation mask. The body temperature was monitored and regulated at normothermic level using a homeothermic heating system. First, a PE-50 polyethylene catheter was inserted into the right jugular vein. One hour later, the rat was reanesthetized for MCAO surgery. The MCAO was achieved using the endovascular suture method described by Long et al., Stroke, Vol. 20, pp. 84-91 (1989). Specifically, the right external carotid artery (ECA) was exposed, coagulated and transected. A 3-0 monofilament nylon suture with a blunted tip was introduced into the proximal stump of the ECA via an arteriotomy and advanced 20 mm from the carotid bifurcation until it lodged in the proximal region of the anterior cerebral artery, thereby occluding the origin of the MCA. The rats were allowed to wake up; 2 hours later, the rats were reanesthetized for reperfusion, during which the nylon suture was retracted to the stump of the ECA allowing blood recirculation to the MCA.

In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Stroke-Induced Rise in Brain Glutamate Levels

To examine the effect of NAALADase inhibitors on hyperglutamatergic disorders in vivo, rats with stroke-induced rise in brain glutamate levels were treated with a vehicle or 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid.

The results are graphically presented in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9.

The results show that 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid treatment (100 mg/kg IP followed by 20 mg/kg/hr IV) significantly attenuated stroke-induced extracellular glutamate increases in the striatum (FIG. 7) as compared to vehicle treated rats (p<0.05), and completely prevented concurrent glutamate changes in the parietal cortex (p<0.01; FIG. 8). In contrast, there was no significant effect of the stroke itself on glutamate in the frontal cortex and no subsequent difference between the vehicle and 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid treated groups (FIG. 9). Values are expressed as % baseline where baseline constitutes the mean of three consecutive 20 minute samples preceding stroke. Absolute basal (pretreatment) values for glutamate (mean±SEM) in caudate, parietal and frontal cortices were 0.25+0.1, 1.1+0.3 and 0.6+0.1 μM, respectively, in the vehicle treated rats, and 0.46+0.1, 2.0+0.7 and 0.9+0.3 μM, respectively, in the 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid treated rats.

Protocol for In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Stroke-Induced Rise in Brain Glutamate Levels

Male Sprague Dawley rats (270-330 g, n=5-6 per group) were implanted with concentric microdialysis probes similar to previously described procedures (Britton et al., J. Neurochem., Vol. 67, pp. 324-329 (1996)). In brief, under halothane anaesthesia, probes (constructed in-house using Cuprophane capillary membrane; 10K mw cut off; 2 mm dialyzing length) were implanted into the frontal cortex (AP=+3.5; ML=3; DIV=3), caudate nucleus (AP=0; ML=3; DV=6.6), and parietal cortex (AP=-2; ML=5; DV=3) (coordinates in mm relative to bregma and dura, respectively), regions believed to represent core and penumbral areas of ischemia-induced injury. Glutamate levels in dialysate were determined using precolumn o-phthaldialdehyde derivatization, followed by HPLC with fluorometric detection.

Approximately 20 hours after probe implantation, the rats were dialyzed with perfusion fluid (125 mM NaCl, 2.5 mM KCl, 1.18 mM MgCl₂ and 1.26 mM CaCl₂) at a rate of 2.5 μl/min. Following a 60 minute stabilization period, dialysis samples were collected every 20 minutes. After collecting 3 baseline samples, the rats were anaesthetized with halothane and subjected to temporary ischemia using the filament method of MCAO (Britton et al., Life Sciences, Vol. 60, No. 20, pp. 1729-1740 (1997)). In brief, the right external carotid artery (ECA) was exposed and its branches coagulated. A 3-0 monofilament nylon suture was introduced into the internal carotid artery via an arteriotomy in the ECA and advanced until it lodged in the proximal region of the anterior cerebral artery, thus occluding the origin of the MCA. The endovascular suture was retracted to allow reperfusion 2 hours after occlusion.

Body temperature was maintained normothermic throughout stroke surgery and reperfusion procedures. The rats were dosed IP with 100 mg/kg 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid at -20 minute pre-occlusion and IV with 20 mg/kg/hr for 4 hours at the time of occlusion. Dialysis samples were collected every 20 minutes from unanesthetized rats. Following 24 hours of reperfusion, the rats were sacrificed, their brains were removed, and 7 coronal sections (2 mm thick) were taken from the region beginning 1 mm from the frontal pole and ending just rostral to the cortico-cerebellar junction. Analysis of ischemic cerebral damage was achieved using TTC staining and computer assisted image analysis as described by Britton et al. (1997), supra.

In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Myelin Formation Following Sciatic Nerve Cryolesion

It was recently demonstrated that NAALADase is down-regulated in glial cells as they start to form myelin and is absent in myelinating Schwann cells. Based on this data, the inventors hypothesized that inhibition of NAALADase may affect the signaling mechanism between axons and Schwann cells and result in increasing myelination. To test this hypothesis, the inventors examined the effect of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid on nerve regeneration and myelination following cryolesion of the sciatic nerve in male mice.

The results are provided below in TABLE IX and graphically presented in FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b).

                  TABLE IX                                                         ______________________________________                                         IN VIVO EFFECT OF NAALADASE INHIBITORS ON MYELIN                               FORMATION FOLLOWING SCIATIC NERVE CRYOLESION                                               2-(phosphonomethyl)-                                                           pentanedioic acid                                                                          vehicle                                                ______________________________________                                         ratio of # of 1.5                                                              myelinated axons                                                               (drug/vehicle)                                                                 # of myelinated                                                                              16.53 ± 0.65                                                                              13.77 ± 0.09                                    lamellae                                                                       (ave. ± SEM)                                                                # increase of 20%                                                              myelinated lamellae                                                            over vehicle                                                                   significance by                                                                              p < 0.005                                                        t-test                                                                         ______________________________________                                    

As detailed in FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b) both light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination of the nerve 3 mm distal to the site of cryolesion demonstrated a significant increase in the number of myelinated axons (1.5-fold increase) and myelin thickness (20% increase, p<0.005), as compared to nerves in mice treated with vehicle.

FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b) show a photomicrograph of this effect. Sections were stained with toluidine blue which stains myelin. Sciatic nerves treated with 2-(phosphonomethyl)-pentanedioic acid containing implants, compared with sciatic nerves treated with vehicle containing implants, exhibited an increase in myelinated axon number as well as an increase in myelin thickness.

Protocol for In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Myelin Formation Following Sciatic Nerve Cryolesion

Cryolesion of the mouse sciatic nerve was performed according to Koenig et al., Science, Vol. 268, pp. 1500-1503 (June 1995). In brief, each mouse was anesthetized and its sciatic nerve was exposed in the upper thigh and cryolesioned using a copper cryode (diameter=0.5 mm) that was dipped in liquid nitrogen and repeatedly applied to the upper part of the nerve. The extent of the lesion was approximately 1 mm.

2-(Phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid was incorporated into silicone strips according to the method of Connold et al., Developmental Brain Res, Vol. 28, pp. 99-104 (1986), and was implanted at the site of cryolesion on day 0 and replaced on days 3, 6, 9 and 12. Approximately 2.5 μg/day of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid was released from the silicone implants each day. Both right and left sciatic nerves of each mouse were lesioned; right-side nerves were treated with silicone implant strips containing vehicle alone while left-side nerves were treated with silicone implants containing2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid. Fifteen days after surgery, the mice were sacrificed and their sciatic nerve segments were collected and processed for light microscopy and TEM analysis. Randomly chosen fields 2-3 mm distal to the lesion were qualitatively analyzed by light microscopy using 1-micrometer-thick toluidine blue stained cross sections and photographic images were captured.

In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Parkinson's Disease

To examine the effect of NAALADase inhibitors on Parkinson's Disease in vivo, MPTP lesioned mice were treated with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid or a vehicle.

The percent of dopaminergic neurons for each group of mice is provided below in TABLE X and graphically presented in FIG. 11.

                  TABLE X                                                          ______________________________________                                         IN VIVO EFFECT OF NAALADASE INHIBITORS ON                                      PARKINSON'S DISEASE                                                                            Percent Strial TH                                                              Innervation Density                                                            (mean ± SEM)                                                ______________________________________                                         vehicle/vehicle   24.74 ± 1,03                                              MPTP/vehicle       7.82 ± 0.68                                              MPTP/2-(phosphonomethyl)-                                                                        16.28 ± 0.98                                              pentanedioic acid                                                              ______________________________________                                    

Mice treated with MPTP and vehicle exhibited a substantial loss of functional dopaminergic terminals as compared to non-lesioned mice (approximately 68% loss). Lesioned mice receiving 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (10 mg/kg) showed a significant recovery of TH-stained dopaminergic neurons (p<0.001). These results indicate that 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid protects against MPTP-toxicity in mice.

Protocol for In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Parkinson's Disease

MPTP lesioning of dopaminergic neurons in mice was used as an animal model of Parkinson's Disease, as described by Steiner, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., Vol. 94, pp. 2019-2024 (March 1997). In brief, four week old male CD1 white mice were dosed IP with 30 mg/kg of MPTP for 5 days. 2-(Phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (10 mg/kg) or a vehicle was administered SC along with the MPTP for 5 days, as well as for an additional 5 days following cessation of MPTP treatment. At 18 days following MPTP treatment, the mice were sacrificed and their brains were removed and sectioned. Immunostaining was performed on saggital and coronal brain sections using anti-tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) antibodies to quantitate survival and recovery of dopaminergic neurons.

In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Dynorphin-Induced Spinal Cord Injury

To examine the neuroprotective effect of NAALADase inhibitors on excitotoxic spinal cord injury in vivo, rats which had sustained dynorphin-induced spinal cord injury were treated with a vehicle or 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid.

The results are graphically presented in FIG. 12.

When co-administered with dynorphin A, 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (4 μmoles) caused significant improvement in motor scores by 24-hour post-injection, as compared to vehicle treated rats (p<0.05, Kruskal-Wallis comparison). The rats were characterized as ambulatory or not on the basis of their assigned neurological scores (0 to 4). At 24 hours post-injection, 73% of the 15 rats co-treated with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid were ambulatory, in contrast to 14% of the 14 vehicle co-treated rats (p<0.05). These results indicate that 2-(phosphonomethyl)-pentanedioic acid provides effective protection against dynorphin-induced spinal cord injury.

Protocol for In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Dynorphin-Induced Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal Subarachnoid Injections

Dynorphin-induced spinal cord injury was performed according to Long et al., JPET, Vol. 269, No. 1, pp. 358-366 (1993). In brief, spinal subarachnoid injections were delivered using 30-gauge needles inserted between the L4-L5 vertebrae of male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-350 g). The rats were anesthetized with halothane and dorsal midline incisions were made immediately rostral to the pelvic girdle. By using the vertebral processes as guides, the needle was advanced to pass into the subarachnoid space surrounding the cauda equina. Correct needle placement was verified by CSF flow from the needle after its insertion. Injections were delivered using a Hamilton microsyringe in a total volume of 20 μl which contained dynorphin (20 nmol), the cannula flush and 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid or vehicle. After injections, the incisions were treated with the topical antibacterial furazolidone and closed with wound clips. Rapid recovery from the halothane anesthesia enabled neurological evaluations to be made within 5 minutes of injections.

Neurological Evaluations

Neurological function was evaluated using a 5-point ordinal scale, with scores being assigned as follows: 4=normal motor function; 3=mild paraparesis, with the ability to support weight and walk with impairment; 2=paraparesis, with the ability to make walking movements without fully supporting weight; 1=severe paraparesis, in which rats could make limited hind limb movement, but not walking movement; and 0=flaccid paralysis, with complete absence of any hind limb movement. Neurological evaluations were made 24 hours after dynorphin A injection.

Statistics

Differences in the neurological scores among treatment groups were determined by means of the Mann-Whitney U test or the Kruskal-Wallis test.

In Vitro Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

To examine the neuroprotective effect of NAALADase inhibitors on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), spinal cord organotypic cultures were treated with threohydroxyaspartate (THA), 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid, or THA combined with 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid, and assayed for choline acetyltransferase (CHAT) activity.

The CHAT activity for each treatment of the spinal cord organotypic cultures is provided below in TABLE XI and graphically presented in FIG. 13.

                  TABLE XI                                                         ______________________________________                                         NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF NAALADASE INHIBITORS IN                              SPINAL CORD CULTURE MODEL OF ALS                                                                ChAT Activity                                                 Treatment        (% of Control)                                                ______________________________________                                         control          100 ± 22.1                                                 2-(phosphonomethyl)-                                                                            108 ± 18.4                                                 pentanedioic acid                                                              alone                                                                          THA alone         36 ± 12.1                                                 2-(phosphonomethyl)-                                                                            121 ± 18.8                                                 pentanedioic acid and                                                          THA                                                                            ______________________________________                                    

As shown in FIG. 13, treatment of the spinal cord organotypic cultures with 100 μM THA resulted in a reduction of ChAT activity to approximately 36% of control cultures. Co-incubation of the cultures with THA and 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (100 nM-10 μM) significantly protected the cultures from THA toxicity.

The dose-response of this effect is provided below in TABLE XII and graphically presented in FIG. 14.

                  TABLE XII                                                        ______________________________________                                         NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF NAALADASE INHIBITORS IN                              SPINAL CORD CULTURE MODEL OF ALS                                                                     ChAT Activity                                                                  (% of Control)                                           ______________________________________                                         control                 100.0                                                  THA                      0                                                     THA and 1 nM 2-(phosphonomethyl)-                                                                      -23.9 ± 18.6                                        pentanedioic acid                                                              THA and 10 nM 2-(phosphonomethyl)-                                                                      23.1 ± 12.5                                        pentanedioic acid                                                              THA and 100 nM 2-(phosphonomethyl)-                                                                     87.5 ± 21.7                                        pentanedioic acid                                                              THA and 1 μM 2-(phosphonomethyl)-                                                                   187.7 ± 32.8                                        pentanedioic acid                                                              THA and 10 μM 2-(phosphonomethyl)-                                                                  128.7 ± 17.2                                        pentanedioic acid                                                              ______________________________________                                    

Spinal cord cultures were incubated with various doses of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (1 nM to 10 μM) in the presence of THA (100 μM) for 14 days. As shown in FIG. 14, 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid exhibited dose-dependent protection against THA-induced toxicity with maximal effects at 1 μM.

Protocol for In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Spinal Cord Organotypic Cultures

Organotypic cultures were prepared from lumbar spinal cord of 8 day old rats, as described by Rothstein et al., J. Neurochem., Vol. 65, No. 2 (1995), and Rothstein et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 90, pp. 6591-6595 (July 1993). In brief, lumbar spinal cords were removed and sliced into 300 μM-thick-dorsal-ventral sections, and five slices were placed on Millipore CM semipermeable 30-mm-diameter membrane inserts. The inserts were placed on 1 ml of culture medium in 35-mm-diameter culture wells. Culture medium consisted of 50% minimal essential medium and phosphate-free HEPES (25 mM), 25% heat-inactivated horse serum, and 25% Hanks' balanced salt solution (GIBCO) supplemented with D-glucose (25.6 mg/ml) and glutamine (2 mM), at a final pH of 7.2. Antibiotic and antifungal agents were not used. Cultures were incubated at 37° C. in 5 CO₂ containing humidified environment (Forma Scientific). Culture medium, along with any added pharmacological agents, was changed twice weekly.

Chronic Toxicity Model with THA

For all experiments, cultures were used 8 days after preparation at which time threohydroxyaspartate (THA; 100 μM), 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (100 pM-10 μM), or THA (100 μM)±2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (100 pM-10 μM) were added to the culture medium.

Drugs were incubated for an additional 13 to 20 days with the 100 μM THA. At the end of this period, cultures were collected assayed for CHAT activity as described below.

CHAT Assays

To determine choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, the spinal cord tissues in each dish (five slices) were pooled and frozen (-75° C.) until assay.

ChAT activity was measured radiometrically by described methods using [³ H]acetyl-CoA (Amersham; Fonnum, 1975).

Protein content of tissue homogenate was determined by a Coomassi Protein Assay kit (Pierce, Rockford, Ill.).

In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Ethanol Consumption in Alcohol-Preferring Rats

To test the effect of NAALADase inhibitors on ethanol consumption, alcohol-preferring rats were treated with saline or a 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg dose of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid prior to ethanol access. The ethanol intake of the rats following treatment is graphically presented in FIG. 15.

As shown in FIG. 15, the 200 mg/kg dose of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid exhibited no effect, whereas both the 50 and 100 mg/kg doses significantly reduced ethanol consumption by approximately 25% (p<0.05) during the 1 hour access period. Body weights and 24 hour water intakes were not altered at any of the 3 doses. If 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid is acting centrally, these data suggest that NAALADase may be involved in neuronal systems regulating alcohol-drinking behavior.

Saline Baseline: 8.9±0.7

200 mg/kg 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid: 8±0.5

Saline Baseline: 7.8±0.8

100 mg/kg 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid: 5.8±0.7

Saline Baseline: 8.1±0.6

50 mg/kg 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid: 6.2±0.9

Protocol for In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Ethanol Consumption in Alcohol-Preferring Rate

The effect of systemic administration of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid was examined on ethanol intake in the alcohol-preferring (P) line of rats, as described by Panocka et al., Pharm. Biochem. and Behavior, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 255-259 (1995) and Murphy et al., Alcohol, Vol. 2, pp. 349-352 (1985). In brief, 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg IP) was tested in female P rats (n=8) given daily 1 hour scheduled access to a 10% (v/v) ethanol solution. A within-subject design was used where 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid treatments were tested once per week. Baseline ethanol drinking consisted of the mean of the 3 days prior to testing in which saline injections were given. 2-(Phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid or saline, administered IP in 1 ml/kg volumes, were injected 10-15 minutes prior to ethanol access. 24 hour water and daily body weights were recorded to assess non-specific drug effects. Results were analyzed using paired t-tests with baseline and test day values serving as the independent variables. Ethanol intake was recorded as amount of solution consumed (mls).

In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Nicotine Self-Administration in Male Long-Evans Rats

To test the effect of NAALADase inhibitors on nicotine self-administration, male Long-Evans rats trained to self-administer nicotine were treated with a 200 mg/kg dose of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid prior to nicotine access. The cumulative nicotine intake of the rats following treatment is graphically presented in FIG. 16.

The results show that the 200 mg/kg dose of 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid reduced nicotine self-administration from 23 to 5 infusions during the 1 hour access period. As graphically presented in FIG. 17, the cumulative food intake of the rats also decreased during the same period of time. While these data suggest that factors other than 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid may be responsible for the reduction in nicotine self-administration, they do not disprove NAALADase's involvement in the neuronal systems regulating nicotine use. The effect on the rats, food intake could be attributed to toxicity caused by an excessive drug dose.

Protocol for In Vivo Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Nicotine Self-Administration in Male Long-Evans Rats

Male Long-Evans rats were trained to self-administer nicotine on a fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement, as described by Corrigall et al., Psychopharmacology, Vol. 104, No. 2, pp. 171-176 (1991) and Corrigall et al., Psychopharmacology, Vol. 107, Nos. 2-3, pp. 285-289 (1992). In brief, male Long-Evans rats were food deprived for a short period of time (24-48 hours) and trained to press a lever in an operant responding chamber on an FR-1 schedule of food reinforcement. Once trained, each rat was surgically prepared with a chronic intravenous catheter implanted into the jugular vein. The rats were allowed 1 week to recover from surgery.

After 1 week, nicotine self-administration studies were initiated on an FR-1 with a 60 second signaled time-out following each infusion. During time-out, responding on the lever had no scheduled consequence. Nicotine self-administration sessions were 60 minutes in duration. Each nicotine infusion contained 30 μg of nicotine/kg rat and were delivered in a volume of 54 μl over an infusion duration of 0.3 seconds. 15 minutes before the self-administration sessions, the rats were pre-treated intraperitoneally with 2-(phosphonomethyl)-pentanedioic acid at doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg. Food intake was monitored during the nicotine self-administration sessions to assess non-specific drug effects.

In Vitro Assay of NAALADase Inhibitors on Cancer

To examine the effect of NAALADase inhibitors on cancer cell line, LNCAP cells (a prostate cancer cell line) were treated with quisqualate acid (in concentrations ranging from 10 nM to 1 μM) and 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (in concentrations ranging from 100 pM to 10 nM). The 3H-thymidine measurement for each concentration of guisqualate acid and 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid is provided in TABLE XIII below and graphically represented in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, respectively.

                  TABLE XIII                                                       ______________________________________                                                  3H-Thymidine Incorporation (dpm/well)                                                        2-(phosphonomethyl)-                                    Dose       Quisqualic Acid                                                                            pentanedioic acid                                       ______________________________________                                         Control    4813 ± 572                                                                              4299 ± 887                                            10 pM     --           3078 ± 1006                                         100 pM     --          2062 ± 595                                            1 nM      3668 ± 866                                                                              1001 ± 52                                             10 nM     2137 ± 764                                                                               664 ± 366                                           100 nM     1543 ± 312                                                                              --                                                       1 μM   1295 ± 181                                                                              --                                                      ______________________________________                                    

The results show that LNCAP cell proliferation (as measured by the incorporation of 3H-thymidine) decreased significantly as the concentration of the NAALADase inhibitors increased, suggesting that the compounds of the present invention would be effective in treating cancer, particularly prostate cancer.

Protocol for In Vitro Cancer Assay

Cells in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% Fetal Calf Serum (FCS) are plated in 24 well plates and allowed to adhere for 24 hours before addition of quisqualic acid (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁶) or 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁸) for 7 days. On the 7th day, the cells are pulsed with 3H-thymidine for 4 hours, harvested and measured for radioactivity. Values represent means±SEM of 6 separate cell wells for each treatment. All experiments are performed at least twice.

To control for non-specific cytostatic effects of quisqualate acid and 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid, the agents are simultaneously evaluated on a non-NAALADase containing prostate cell line, DU145 (carter et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, (93) 749-753, 1996) If the treatments with quisqualate acid and 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic have no significant effect on cell growth, the NAALADase inhibiting activity of the agents are uniquely responsible for their cytostatic effects on prostate carcinoma cell lines.

Cell Lines and Tissue Culture

LNCAP cells are obtained from Dr. William Nelson at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. DU145 cells are obtained from American Type Culture Collection (Rockville, Md.). Cells are grown in RPMI-1640 media supplemented with 5% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 2 mM-glutamine, 100 units/ml penicillin, and 100 μg/ml streptomycin (Paragon) in a humidified incubator at 37° C. in a 5% CO₂ /95% air atmosphere.

[3H] Thymidine Incorporation Assays

The cells are suspended at 1×10³ cells/ml in RPMI-1640 media and seeded into 24-well plates at 500 μl per well. After 24 hour incubation, various concentrations of quisqualic acid (Sigma) or the potent NAALADase inhibitor 2-(phosphonomethyl)pentanedioic acid (synthesized according to the methods of Jackson et al., J. Med. Chem., Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 619-622, is added to the wells and the plates are returned to the incubator.

On days 3, 5 and 7, media and drug are refreshed. On the 8th day following seeding, each well is pulsed with 1 μCi ³ H-thymidine (New England Nuclear) for 4 hours. Media is then removed and the wells washed 2 times with phosphate buffered saline (pH=7.4). The contents of each well is subsequently solubilized 250 μl of 0.2N NaOH and transferred to scintillation vials. 5 ml UltimaGold (Packard) scintillation cocktail is added and radioactivity is quantitated using a Beckman LS6001 scintillation counter.

The purity and/or identity of all synthetic compounds is ascertained by thin layer chromatography, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra are obtained using a Bruker spectrometer. Chemical shifts are reported in parts per million relative to tetramethylsilane as internal standard. Analytical thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is conducted on prelayered silica gel GHLF plates (Analtech, Newark, Del.). Visualization of the plates is accomplished by using UV light, phosphomolybdic acid-ethanol, and/or iodoplatinate charring. Flash chromatography is conducted on Kieselgel 60, 230-400 mesh (E. Merck, Darmstadt, West Germany). Solvents are either reagent or HPLC grade. Reactions are run at ambient temperature and under a nitrogen atmosphere unless otherwise noted. Solutions are evaporated under reduced pressure on a Buchi rotary evaporator.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to be limitations thereon. Unless otherwise indicated, all percentages are based upon 100% by weight of the final composition.

Example 1 Synthesis of 2-[[[2-(carboxy)propyl]hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic Acid

Di-tert-butyl 2-methylenepentanedioate

Tert-butyl acrylate (465 g, 3.628 mol) was warmed to 100° C. under nitrogen, then hexamethylphosphorous triamide (10 g, 61.2 mmol) was added dropwise and the addition rate was adjusted to maintain the reaction temperature at 100° C. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool, then poured over a plug of silica (˜1000 ml) and washed completely off the silica with 4:1 hexane/ethyl acetate. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the resulting oil was distilled. Some material was collected from room temperature to 50° C. under high vacuum, and discarded. The temperature was then raised to -80° C. and the product (300 g, 65%, b.p. 67-70° C. at 300μ) was collected as a clear oil. ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.4 (m, 18H), 2.4 (t, 2H), 2.6 (t, 2H), 5.5 (s, 1H), 6.0 (s, 1H).

Di-tert-butyl2-[(hydroxyphosphinyl)methyl]pentanedioate

A mixture of ammonium phosphinate (162.6 g, 1.96 mol) and 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane (316 g, 1.96 mol) was heated to 105° C. for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was cooled in an ice bath and di-tert-butyl 2-methylenepentane-1,5-dioate (251 g, 0.979 mol) dissolved in dichloromethane (1000 ml) was added dropwise. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture was then quenched with distilled water (500 ml) and the organic layer was retained. The aqueous layer was washed a second time with dichloromethane and the combined organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate. Then the solvent was removed under reduced pressure leaving a slightly yellow oil (315 g, 100%). This product was found to be of sufficient purity for use in the next reaction. ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.4 (m, 18H), 1.9 (m, 3H), 2.1 (m, 1H), 2.3 (m, 2H), 2.7 (m, 1H), 6.5 & 7.9 (d, 1H, the P-H), 11.0 (s, 1H)

Di-tert-butyl 2-[(tert-butoxyphosphinyl)methyl]pentanedioate

To a solution of di-tert-butyl 2-[(hydroxyphosphinyl)methyl]pentane-1,5-dioate (315 g, 0.977 mol) in dichloromethane (1000 ml) cooled in an ice bath and under nitrogen were added tert-butanol (123.1 g, 1.66 mol), 4-dimethylaminopyridine (1 g, 8.2 mmol), and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (281 g, 1.47 mol) . The reaction was allowed to stir overnight. Water was added to the reaction mixture and the dichloromethane layer was retained and dried, and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purified by column chromatography and the desired product was eluted with 1:1 to 2:3 hexane/ethyl acetate. The fractions containing product were concentrated under reduced pressure leaving a clear oil (260 g, 70%). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.4 (m, 27H) , 1.8 (m, 1H), 1.9 (m, 2H) 2.1 (m, 1H), 2.3 (m, 2H), 2.7-2.8 (m, 1H), 6.7 & 8.0 (d, 1H, the P-H).

Di-tert-butyl 2-[[[2-(benzylcarboxy)propyl]tert-butoxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioate

To a solution of di-tert-butyl 2-[(tert-butoxyphosphinyl)methyl]pentane-1,5-dioate (13.62 g, 36.0 mmol) and benzyl methacrylate (6.35 g, 36.0 mmol) in THF (100 ml) under nitrogen was added sodium hydride (0.14 g, 60% dispersion in oil, 3.60 mmol). After three hours, the reaction mixture was poured into water (300 ml) and ether (100 ml) was added. The organic layer was separated and retained, and the aqueous layer was washed again with ether (100 ml). The combined organic extracts were dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purified by column chromatography and the product was eluted with 2:3 EtOAc/Hexane. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure leaving a clear oil (10.5 g, 53%). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.3 (m, 3H), 1.5 (m, 27H), 1.7 (m, 2H), 1.9 (m, 2H), 2.2 (m, 4H), 2.6 (m, 1H), 2.9 (m, 1H), 5.1 (m, 2H), 7.3 (m, 5H).

2-[[[2-(Benzylcarboxy)propyl]hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic Acid

To a solution of di-tert-butyl 2-[[[2-(benzylcarboxy)propyl]tert-butoxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentane-1,5-dioate (1.6 g, 2.89 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 ml) under nitrogen was added trifluoroacetic acid (10 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred for two hours and then concentrated under reduced pressure. Additional dichloromethane was added to the reaction residue and removed under reduced pressure. The product was dissolved in ethyl acetate and washed with water, then the organic layer was dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure leaving a clear oil (800 mg, 72%). ¹ H NMR (D₂ O): δ 1.2 (m, 3H), 1.6-1.8 (m, 4H), 2.1 (m, 2H), 2.2 (m, 2H), 2.6 (m, 1H), 2.8 (m, 1H), 5.0 (m, 2H), 7.3 (m, 5H). Analysis calculated for C₁₇ H₂₃ PO₈ 1.O H₂ O: C, 50.50; H, 6.23. Found: C, 50.52; H, 5.92.

Di-tert-butyl 2-[[[2-(carboxy)propyl]tert-butyoxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioate

A solution of di-tert-butyl 2-[[[2-(benzylcarboxy)propyl]tert-butoxyphosphinyl]]pentane-1,5-dioate (8.9 g, 16.1 mmol), palladium on carbon catalyst (10%, 1.0 g) and ethyl acetate (100 ml) was shaken under hydrogen (60 psi) for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered over celite and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure leaving a clear oil (7.5 g, 100%). ¹ H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.3 (d, 3H) , 1.4-1.5 (m, 27H), 1.8 (m, 2H), 1.9 (m, 2H), 2.2 (m, 4H), 2.7 (m, 1H), 2.9 (m, 1H).

2-[[[2-(Carboxy)propyl]hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic Acid

To a solution of di-tert-butyl 2-[[[2-(carboxy)propyl]tert-butoxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentane-1,5-dioate (2.1 g, 4.53 mmol) in dichloromethane (10 ml) under nitrogen was added trifluoroacetic acid (10 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred for two hours and then concentrated under reduced pressure. Additional dichloromethane was added to the reaction residue and removed under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was triturated with acetonitrile, then dried under reduced pressure leaving a thick clear oil (1.2 g, 89%) ¹ H NMR (D₂ O): δ 1.2 (d, 3H), 1.9 (m, 4H), 2.2 (m, 2H), 2.4 (m, 2H), 2.8 (m, 2H). Analysis calculated for C₁₀ H₁₇ PO₈ 0.2 CH₃ CN: C, 41.03; H, 5.83. Found: C, 41.05; H, 5.92.

Example 2

A patient is at risk of injury from an ischemic event. The patient may be pretreated with an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the pretreatment, the patient would be protected from any injury due to the ischemic event.

EXAMPLE 3

A patient is suffering from an ischemic event. The patient may be administered during or after the event, an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would recover or would not suffer any significant injury due to the ischemic event.

EXAMPLE 4

A patient has suffered injury from an ischemic event. The patient may be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would recover from the injury due to the ischemic event.

EXAMPLE 5

A patient is suffering from a glutamate abnormality. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from further injury due to the glutamate abnormality or would recover from the glutamate abnormality.

EXAMPLE 6

A patient is suffering from or has suffered from a nervous insult, such as that arising from a neurodegenerative disease or a neurodegenerative process. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from further injury due to the nervous insult or would recover from the nervous insult.

EXAMPLE 7

A patient is suffering from Parkinson's disease. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from further neurodegeneration or would recover from Parkinson's disease.

EXAMPLE 8

A patient is suffering from ALS. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from further neurodegeneration or would recover from ALS.

EXAMPLE 9

A patient is suffering from epilepsy. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from further neurodegeneration or would recover from epilepsy.

EXAMPLE 10

A patient is suffering from abnormalities in myelination/demyelination processes. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from further neurodegeneration or would recover from the abnormalities in myelination/demyelination processes.

EXAMPLE 11

A patient is suffering from or has suffered from a cerebrovascular accident, such as stroke. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from or would recover from any injury due to the cerebrovascular accident.

EXAMPLE 12

A patient is suffering from a head trauma. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from or would recover from any ischemic brain, spinal or peripheral injury resulting from the head trauma.

EXAMPLE 13

A patient is suffering from a spinal trauma. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from or would recover from any ischemic injury resulting from the spinal trauma.

EXAMPLE 14

A patient is about to undergo surgery. The patient may be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would not develop any ischemic brain, spinal or peripheral injury resulting from or associated with the surgery.

EXAMPLE 15

A patient is suffering from focal ischemia, such as that associated with thromboembolytic occlusion of a cerebral vessel, traumatic head injury, edema or brain tumors. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from or would recover from any brain, spinal or peripheral injury resulting from the focal ischemia.

EXAMPLE 16

A patient is suffering from global ischemia. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from or would recover from any brain, spinal or peripheral injury resulting from the global ischemia.

EXAMPLE 17

A patient is suffering from a cardiac arrest. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from or would recover from any ischemic brain, spinal or peripheral injury associated with the cardiac arrest.

EXAMPLE 18

A patient is suffering from hypoxia, asphyxia or perinatal asphyxia. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from or would recover from any ischemic brain, spinal or peripheral injury associated with the hypoxia, asphyxia or perinatal asphyxia.

EXAMPLE 19

A patient is suffering from a cerebro-cortical injury. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from or would recover from any ischemic brain injury resulting from the cerebro-cortical injury.

EXAMPLE 20

The patient is suffering from an injury to the caudate nucleus. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from or would recover from any ischemic brain injury resulting from the injury to the caudate nucleus.

EXAMPLE 21

A patient is suffering from a cortical injury due to a condition identified in these examples. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from further injury, or would exhibit at least 65% to at least 80% recovery from the cortical injury.

EXAMPLE 22

A patient is suffering from multiple sclerosis. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from further demyelination or would recover from multiple sclerosis.

EXAMPLE 23

A patient is suffering from a peripheral neuropathy caused by Guillain-Barre syndrome. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from further demyelination or would recover from the peripheral neuropathy.

EXAMPLE 24

The patient is suffering from alcoholism. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient's craving for alcohol would be suppressed.

EXAMPLE 25

A patient is suffering from nicotine dependence. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient's craving for nicotine would be suppressed.

EXAMPLE 26

The patient is suffering from cocaine dependence. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient's craving for cocaine would be suppressed.

EXAMPLE 27

A patient is suffering from heroine dependence. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient's craving for heroine would be suppressed.

EXAMPLE 28

The patient is suffering from compulsive overeating, obesity or severe obesity. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient's compulsion to eat would be suppressed.

EXAMPLE 29

A patient is suffering from pathological gambling. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient's compulsion to gamble would be suppressed.

EXAMPLE 30

The patient is suffering from ADD. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient's symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and/or hyperactivity would be suppressed.

EXAMPLE 31

A patient is suffering from Tourette's syndrome. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient's simple, complex, respiratory and vocal tics would be suppressed.

EXAMPLE 32

A patient is suffering from adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. After this initial treatment, the patient may optionally be administered the same or a different compound of the present invention in intermittent or continuous doses by subdural pump. It is expected that the treatment(s) would prevent recurrences of the adenocarcinoma, or inhibit (i.e., arrest development of) or relieve (i.e., cause regression of) the adenocarcinoma tumor cells.

EXAMPLE 33

A patient is suffering from adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention by direct injection into the tumor. After this initial treatment, the patient may optionally be administered an effective amount of the same or a different compound of the present invention in intermittent or continuous doses by implantation of a biocompatible polymeric matrix delivery system. It is expected that the treatment(s) would prevent recurrences of the adenocarcinoma, or inhibit (i.e., arrest development of) or relieve (i.e., cause regression of) the adenocarcinoma tumor cells.

EXAMPLE 34

A patient is diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. The patient may then be administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention by direct injection into the tumor. After this initial treatment, the patient may optionally be administered the same or a different compound of the present invention in intermittent or continuous doses by injection, subdural pump or polymeric matrix implant. It is expected that after the treatment (s), the benign prostatic hyperplastic cells would not develop into carcinoma.

EXAMPLE 35

A patient is suffering from adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The adenocarcinoma does not appear to have metastasized. The patient undergoes surgery to remove the adenocarcinoma. After post-surgical recovery, the patient may be locally administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention in intermittent or continuous doses by injection, subdural pump or polymeric matrix implant. It is expected that after the treatment, the patient would be protected from recurrences of the adenocarcinoma, and any residual tumorous cells would be inhibited (i.e., arrested in development) or relieved (i.e., caused to regress).

EXAMPLE 36

A patient is suffering from metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Although the adenocarcinoma appears to have metastasized, the patient nevertheless undergoes surgery to remove the adenocarcinoma. The patient may then be locally administered an effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention approximately from the time of initial diagnosis through post-surgical recovery. After post-surgical recovery, the patient may continue the same treatment by a regimen of periodic local administration, and carefully monitored for adverse side-effects. It is expected that after the treatments, the patient would be protected from recurrences of the adenocarcinoma, and any residual tumorous cells would be inhibited (i.e., arrested in development) or relieved (i.e., caused to regress).

EXAMPLE 37

A patient is suffering from cancer as defined herein. An effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may be administered directly to the cancer cells. After this initial treatment, the patient may be optionally administered an effective amount of the same or a different compound of the present invention by direct injection, subdural pump or implantation of a biocompatible polymeric matrix delivery system. It is expected that after the treatment (s), the patient would be protected from recurrences of the cancer, and the cancer would be inhibited (i.e., arrested in development) or relieved (i.e., caused to regress).

EXAMPLE 38

A patient is diagnosed with a disease, disorder or condition as identified in these examples. An effective amount of a compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may then be administered to the patient intravenously, intramuscularly, intraventricularly to the brain, rectally, subcutaneously, intranasally, through a catheter with or without a pump, orally, through a transdermal patch, topically, or through a polymer implant. After the E treatment, the patient's condition would be expected to improve.

EXAMPLE 39

A patient is diagnosed with a disease, disorder or condition as identified in these examples. A compound or a pharmaceutical composition of the present invention may then be administered to the patient in the form of a 100 mg/kg bolus, optionally followed by a 20 mg/kg per hour intravenous infusion over a two-hour period. After the treatment, the patient's condition would be expected to improve.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

We claim:
 1. A compound of formula I: ##STR14## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof, wherein:X is CR₆ R₇, O or NR₈ ; R₁ is selected from the group consisting of C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₁ is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar; R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are independently unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar; provided that when X is --CH₂ --, R₁ is --(CH₂)₂ --, R₂ is --(CH₂)₂ COOCH₂ C₆ H₅, R₃ is benzyl, and R₄ is hydrogen, then R₅ is not benzyl; and Ar is selected from the group consisting of 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, [2-indolyl, 3-indolyl, 4-indolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl,] benzyl and phenyl, wherein said Ar is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, C₂ -C₆ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino.
 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein X is CH₂.
 3. The compound of claim 2, wherein:R₂ is --(CH₂)₂ COOR₉ ; and R₉ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C_(l) -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₉ is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar.
 4. The compound of claim 3, wherein R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₉ are hydrogen.
 5. The compound of claim 3, which is selected from the group consisting of:2-[[2-carboxypropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[2-carboxybutyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-carboxypentyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[2-carboxy-3-naphthylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; [2-[[2-carboxy-3-pyridylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;] 2-[[2-benzyloxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[2-methoxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphiryl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(3-carboxy-2-methoxycarbonyl)propyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(4-carboxy-2-methoxycarbonyl)butyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; andpharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and prodrugs thereof.
 6. The compound of claim 5, which is 2-[[2-carboxypropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]-methyl]pentanedioic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof.
 7. A method of inhibiting NAALADase enzyme activity in an animal, comprising administering to said animal an effective amount of a compound of formula I: ##STR15## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof, wherein:X is CR₆ R₇, O or NR₈ ; R₁ is selected from the group consisting of C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₁ is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar; R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chair alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are independently unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar; and Ar is selected from the group consisting of 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, [2-indolyl, 3-indolyl, 4-indolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl,] benzyl and phenyl, therein said Ar is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₃ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C_(l) -C₆ alkoxy, C₂ -C₆ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the compound is administered in combination with at least one additional therapeutic agent.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein X is CH₂.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein:R₂ is --(CH₂)₂ COOR₉ ; and R₉ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, (C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₉ is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein R₃, R₄, R₅, and R₉ are hydrogen.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:2-[[(2-carboxypropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-carboxybutyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-carboxypentyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedoic acid; 2-[[(2-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-carboxy-3-naphthylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; [2-[[(2-carboxy-3-pyridylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;] 2-[[(2-benzyloxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-methoxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(3 -carboxy-2-methoxycarbonyl)propyl) hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(4-carboxy-2-methoxycarbonyl)butyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; andpharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and prodrugs thereof.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the compound is 2-[[(2-carboxypropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof.
 14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising:(i) A therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I: ##STR16## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof, wherein: X is CR₆ R₇, O or NR₈ ; R₁ is selected from the group consisting of C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₁ is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar; R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₆ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈ are independently unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar; and Ar is selected from the group consisting of 1-naphthyl, 2-naphthyl, [2-indolyl, 3-indolyl, 4-indolyl, 2-furyl, 3-furyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, tetrahydropyranyl, 2-thienyl, 3-thienyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 4-pyridyl,] benzyl and phenyl, wherein said Ar is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₆ alkoxy, C₂ -C₆ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, and amino; and (ii) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 15. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 14, wherein X is CH₂.
 16. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 15, wherein:R₂ is --(CH₂)₂ COOR₉ ; and R₉ is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C₁ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₉ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl and Ar, wherein said R₉ is unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituent(s) independently selected from the group consisting of carboxy, carbonyl, C₃ -C₈ cycloalkyl, C₅ -C₇ cycloalkenyl, halo, hydroxy, nitro, trifluoromethyl, C₁ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkyl, C₂ -C₆ straight or branched chain alkenyl, C₁ -C₉ alkoxy, C₂ -C₉ alkenyloxy, phenoxy, benzyloxy, amino, and Ar.
 17. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 15, wherein R₃, R₄ , R₅, and R₉ are hydrogen.
 18. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 15, wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of:2-[[(2-carboxypropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-carboxybutyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-carboxypentyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methtyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-carboxy-3-naphthylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; [2-[[(2-carboxy-3-pyridylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid;] 2-[[(2-benzyloxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(2-methoxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(3-carboxy-2-methoxycarbonyl)propyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; 2-[[(4-carboxy-2-methoxycarbonyl)butyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid; andpharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and prodrugs thereof.
 19. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 18, wherein the compound is 2-[[(2-carboxypropyl)hydroxyphosphinyl]methyl]pentanedioic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate or prodrug thereof.
 20. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 14, wherein the amount of the compound of formula I is effective for inhibiting NAALADase enzyme activity in an animal. 